Great Throughts Treasury

This site is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Alan William Smolowe who gave birth to the creation of this database.

Thomas Kempis, aka Thomas à Kempis, Thomas von Kempen, Thomas Haemerkken or Hammerlein or Hemerken or Hämerken

German Scholar, Ecclesiastic, Copiest and Probable Author of "The Imitation of Christ"

"A humble knowledge of thyself is a surer way to God than a deep search after learning."

"All men command patience, although few be willing to practice it."

"A wise love regards not so much the gift of him who loves, as the love of him who gives. He esteems affection rather than valuables, and sets all gifts below the Beloved. A noble-minded lover rests not in the gift, but in Me above every gift. "

"Constantly choose rather to want less, than to have more."

"Do not concern yourself with anxiety for the shadow of a great name."

"Choose rather to want less, than to have more."

"First keep the peace within yourself, then you can also bring peace to others."

"Great tranquillity of heart is his who cares for neither praise nor blame."

"Endeavor to be always patient of the faults and imperfections of others; for thou has many faults and imperfections of thine own that require forbearance. If thou art not able to make thyself that which thou wishest, how canst thou expect to mold another in conformity to thy will?"

"Habit is overcome by habit."

"Happy is the man who renounces everything which may bring a stain or burden upon his conscience."

"He that avoideth not small faults, by little and little falleth into greater."

"He will easily be content and at peace, whose conscience is pure."

"In judging of others a man laboreth in vain, often erreth, and easily sinneth; but in judging and examining himself, he always laboreth fruitfully."

"Our own opinion of ourselves should be lower than that formed by others, for we have a better chance at our imperfections."

"No conflict is so severe as his who labors to subdue himself."

"Occasions of adversity best discover how great virtue or strength each one hath. For occasions do not make a man frail, but they show what he is."

"Purity and simplicity are the two wings with which man soars above the earth and all temporary nature. Simplicity is in the intention, purity in the affection; simplicity turns to God; purity unites with and enjoys Him."

"How seldom we weigh our neighbor in the same balance with ourselves!"

"If thou canst not make thyself such an one as thou wouldst, how canst thou expect to have another in all things to thy liking?"

"Temptation discovers what we are."

"That learning which thou gettest by thy own observation and experience, is far beyond that which thou gettest by precept; as the knowledge of a traveler exceeds that which is got by reading."

"Those who love with purity consider not the gift of the lover, but the love of the giver."

"The highest and most profitable learning is the knowledge of ourselves. To have a low opinion of our own merits, and to think highly of others, is an evidence of wisdom. All men are frail, but thou shouldst reckon none so frail as thyself."

"Thou wilt enjoy tranquillity if thy heart condemn thee not."

"We should have much peace if we would not busy ourselves with the sayings and doings of others."

"No man safely commands but he who has learned to obey."

"Intelligence must follow faith, never precede it, and never destroy it."

"The humble knowledge of thyself is a surer way to God, than the deepest search after science."

"There are many things, the knowledge of which is of little or no profit to the soul."

"Man sees your actions, but God your motives."

"Love is swift, sincere, pious, pleasant, gentle, strong, patient, faithful, prudent, long-suffering, manly, and never seeking her own."

"We are often moved with passion, and we think it to be zeal."

"Verily, when the day of judgment comes, we shall not be asked what we have read, but what we have done."

"A good deed done without love is nothing, but if anything is done from love, however small and inconsiderable it may be, every bit of it is counted. God considers what lies behind the deed, and not what is actually done."

"For a small reward a man will hurry away on a long journey, while for eternal happiness man will hardly take a single step."

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

"All men desire peace but few indeed desire those things which make for peace."

"At the day of judgment it shall not be asked of us what we have read, but what we have done; not how well we have said, but how religiously we have lived."

"God hath thus ordered it, that we may learn to bear one another’s burdens; for no man is without fault, no man without his burden, no man sufficient of himself, no man wise enough of himself; but we ought to bear with one another, comfort one another, help, instruct, and admonish one another. "

"Delay not the health of thy soul through trust in friends or in neighbors; for men will forget sooner than thou thinkest; it is better to make provision betimes and send before thee some good than to trust in other men’s help."

"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. "

"God walks with the humble; he reveals himself to the lowly; he gives understanding to the little ones; he discloses his meaning to pure minds, but hides his grace from the curious and proud."

"The glory of a good man is the witness of a good conscience."

"The joy of a good man is the witness of a good conscience; have a good conscience and thou shalt ever have gladness."

"One habit overcomes another."

"The loftier the building, the deeper must the foundation be laid."

"The more meek that a man is and the more subject to God the more wise shall he be in all things, and the more patient."

"There are many persons who desire the contemplative life, but they will not practice the things which lead to it."

"Times of trouble best discover the truth worth of a man."