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41 " If it seemeth to thee that thou knowest many things, and understandest them well, know also that there are many more things which thou knowest not. "
― Thomas à Kempis , The Imitation of Christ
42 " Nothing is sweeter than love, nothing stronger or higher or wider, nothing is more pleasant, nothing fuller, and nothing better in heaven or on earth, for love is born of God and cannot rest except in God, Who is created above all things. "
43 " All that is in the world is vanity except to love God and serve him only. "
44 " Sic Transit Gloria Mundi (Thus passes the glory of the world). "
45 " If you wish to draw profit, read with humility, simplicity, and faith, and never with the design of gaining a reputation for learning. "
46 " A lowly knowledge of thyself is a surer way to God than the deep searching of a man’s learnings. Not that learning is to be blamed, nor the taking account of anything that is good; but a good conscience and a holy life is better than all. And because many seek knowledge rather than good living, therefore they go astray, and bear little or no fruit. "
47 " Hence we must support one another, console one another, mutually help, counsel, and advise, for the measure of every man’s virtue is best revealed in time of adversity — adversity that does not weaken a man but rather shows what he is. "
48 " At the least, bear patiently, if thou canst not joyfully. And although thou be very unwilling to hear it, and feel indignation, yet check thyself, and suffer no unadvised word to come forth from thy lips, whereby the little ones may be offended. Soon the storm which hath been raised shall be stilled, and inward grief shall be sweetened by returning grace. "
49 " 5. Be ofttimes mindful of the saying,(3) The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear with hearing. Strive, therefore, to turn away thy heart from the love of the things that are seen, and to set it upon the things that are not seen. For they who follow after their own fleshly lusts, defile the conscience, and destroy the grace of God. "
50 " Look at our fathers in the old days, living masterpieces as they are and shining examples of true religion; and see how feeble our own achievement is, almost nothing. Heaven help us, what is our life in comparison with theirs? Holy people these, true friends of Christ, that could go hungry and thirsty in God's service; cold and ill-clad, worn out with labors and vigils and fasting, with praying and meditating on holy things, with all the persecutions and insults they endured. "
51 " I would rather feel contrition than know how to define it. "
52 " On the day of judgment, it will be demanded of us not what we have read, but what we have done. "
53 " It is vanity, too, to covet honours, and to lift up ourselves on high...It is vanity, to love that which quickly passeth away and not to hasten where eternal joy abideth "
54 " If men used as much care in uprooting vices and implanting virtues as they do in discussing problems, there would not be so much evil and scandal in the world, or such laxity in religious organizations. On the day of judgment, surely, we shall not be asked what we have read but what we have done; not how well we have spoken but how well we have lived. Tell me, where now are all the masters and teachers whom you knew so well in life and who were famous for their learning? Others have already taken their places and I know not whether they ever think of their predecessors. During life they seemed to be something; now they are seldom remembered. "
55 " The deepest and most profitable lesson is this,the true knowlege and contempt of ourselves. "
56 " Nothing will hinder you more than thinking only about yourself. "
57 " This is great wisdom, not to be hasty in action, or stubborn in our own opinions. "
58 " But why do we talk and gossip so continually, seeing that we so rarely resume our silence without some hurt done to our conscience? "
59 " He who shunneth not small faults falleth little by little into greater. "
60 " We may enjoy abundance of peace if we refrain from busying ourselves with the sayings and doings of others, and things which concern not ourselves. "