Home > Work > The Imitation of Christ
81 " You will never find peace unless you are united with Christ in the very depths of your heart. "
― Thomas à Kempis , The Imitation of Christ
82 " When life feels heavy, these two remedies relieve life’s complexities: simplicity and purity. Simplicity seeks God. Purity enjoys him. "
83 " Give me courage to resist, patience to endure, constancy to persevere. "
84 " How came it to pass that many of the Saints were so perfect, so contemplative of Divine things? Because they steadfastly sought to mortify themselves from all worldly desires, and so were enabled to cling with their whole heart to God, and be free and at leisure for the thought of Him. We are too much occupied with our own affections, and too anxious about transitory things. "
85 " Simplicity ought to be in the intention, purity in the affection. "
86 " It is better for you to live privately and take care of yourself than it is to neglect your soul even though you could work wonders in the world. "
87 " Your love for your friend should be grounded in Me, and for My sake you should love whoever seems to be good and is very dear to you in this life. Without Me friendship has no strength and cannot endure. Love which I do not bind is neither true nor pure. "
88 " This is the greatest wisdom--to seek the kingdom of heaven through contempt of the world. It is vanity, therefore, to seek and trust in riches that perish. It is vanity also to court honor and to be puffed up with pride. It is vanity to follow the lusts of the body and to desire things for which severe punishment later must come. It is vanity to wish for long life and to care little about a well-spent life. It is vanity to be concerned with the present only and not to make provision for things to come. It is vanity to love what passes quickly and not to look ahead where eternal joy abides. "
89 " For verily it is not deep words that make a man holy and upright; it is a good life which maketh a man dear to God. I had rather feel contrition than be skilful in the definition thereof. If thou knewest the whole Bible, and the sayings of all the philosophers, what should all this profit thee without the love and grace of God? Vanity of vanities, all is vanity, save to love God, and Him only to serve. That is the highest wisdom, to cast the world behind us, and to reach forward to the heavenly kingdom. "
90 " 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. "
91 " Satan leaves unbelievers and sinners alone because he already has them in his grip; he goes after believers who are faithful and devout. "
92 " Profound theology doesn’t make anyone righteous; what pleases me is an exemplary life. Regret for wrongdoing is better than knowing its definition. "
93 " Est-ce faire beaucoup que de vous servir, vous que doivent servir toutes les créatures ?Cela doit me sembler peu de chose; mais ce qui me paraît grand et merveilleux, c'est que vous daigniez agréer le service d'une créature si pauvre et si misérable, et l'admettre parmi les serviteurs que vous aimez. "
94 " Mightily and long must a man strive within himself before he learn altogether to overcome himself, and to draw his whole affection towards God. "
95 " The more a man hath unity and simplicity in himself, the more things and the deeper things he understandeth; and that without labour, because he receiveth the light of understanding from above. The spirit which is pure, sincere, and steadfast, is not distracted though it hath many works to do, because it doth all things to the honour of God, and striveth to be free from all thoughts of self-seeking. "
96 " Two things specially avail unto improvement in holiness, namely firmness to withdraw ourselves from the sin to which by nature we are most inclined, and earnest zeal for that good in which we are most lacking. "
97 " Your sole desire should be the glory of God, not the praise of others. "
98 " To account nothing of one's self, and to think always kindly and highly of others, this is great and perfect wisdom. Even shouldest thou see thy neighbor sin openly or grievously, yet thou oughtest not to reckon thyself better than he, for thou knowest not how long thou shalt keep thine integrity. All of us are weak and frail; hold thou no man more frail than thyself. "
99 " The spirit which is pure, sincere, and steadfast, is not distracted though it hath many works to do, because it doth all things to the honour of God, and striveth to be free from all thoughts of self-seeking. "
100 " is truly great who deemeth himself small, and counteth all height of honour as nothing. "