Thomas Kempis

Thou art miserable wheresoever thou art, and whithersoever thou turnest, unless thou turn thee to God.

Of a surety, at the Day of Judgment it will be demanded of us, not what we have read, but what we have done; not how well we have spoken, but how holily we have lived.

Be not angry that you cannot make others as you wish them to be, since you cannot make yourself as you wish to be.

Look well unto thyself, and beware that thou judge not the doings of others. In judging others a man laboureth in vain; he often erreth, and easily falleth into sin; but in judging and examining himself he always laboureth to good purpose.

The greatest saints used to avoid as far as they could the company of men, and chose to live in secret with God.

In the morning make thy resolves, and in the evening inquire into thy life, how thou hast sped to-day in word, deed, and thought;

If thou desire to profit, read with humility, simplicity, and faithfulness; nor even desire the repute of learning.

How can he abide long time in peace who occupieth himself with other men’s matters, and with things without himself, and meanwhile payeth little or rare heed to the self within?

Be thou never without something to do; be reading, or writing, or praying, or meditating, or doing something that is useful to the community.

Yet, notwithstanding, temptations turn greatly unto our profit, even though they be great and hard to bear; for through them we are humbled, purified, instructed. All Saints have passed through much tribulation and temptation, and have profited thereby.

If thou knewest the whole Bible by heart, and the sayings of all the philosophers, what would it profit thee without the love of God and without grace?

The proud and the avaricious man are never at rest; while the poor and lowly of heart abide in the multitude of peace.