Thomas a Kempis
Thomas a Kempis
Thomas à Kempis, C.R.S.A.; c. 1380 – 25 July 1471) was a Dutch canon regular of the late medieval period and the author of The Imitation of Christ, one of the most popular and best known Christian books on devotion. His name means Thomas "of Kempen", his hometown, and in German he is known as Thomas von Kempen. He also is known by various spellings of his family name: Thomas Haemerken; Thomas Hammerlein; Thomas Hemerken and Thomas Hämerken...
NationalityGerman
ProfessionClergyman
CountryGermany
fear-of-death ifs conscience
If thou hadst a good conscience thou wouldst not greatly fear death.
death may thee
Always be thou prepared, and so live that death may never find thee unprepared.
fall
Wheresoever we seek our own, there we fall from love.
reading humble men
Oh how swiftly the glory of the world passes away! If only the lives of these men had been as admirable as their learning, their study and reading would have been to good purpose! But how many in this world care little for the service of God, and perish in their vain learning. Because they choose to be great rather than humble, they perish in their own conceit.
Carefully avoid in yourself those things which distrub you in others.
blessing being-thankful worthy
Be thankful for the smallest blessing, and you will be worthy to receive greater.
men mouths may
May not be your peace in the mouth of the men; since no matter if they thing good or bad about you, you should not be a different man because of that.
grace inward affliction
The more the flesh is wasted by affliction, so much more is the Spirit strengthened by inward grace.
men
No man doth safely rule, but he that hath learned gladly to obey.
good-life men holy
Learned arguments do not make a man holy and righteous, whereas a good life makes him dear to God.
giving heard
I have often heard, that it is safer to hear and to take counsel, than to give it.
moving heart curiosity
Do not read to satisfy curiosity or to pass the time, but study such things as move your heart to devotion.
self understanding mind
Caution is crediting, and reserve in speaking, and in revealing one's self to but very few, are the best securities both of a good understanding with the world, and of the inward peace of our own minds.
temptation
Temptations discover what you are.