#thomaskempis

No one can grasp and comprehend this mystery alone; it even soars beyond the subtle understanding of the angels. How can I, then, as unworthy as I am—a creature of mere dust and ashes—be able to probe into so profound a secret and understand it?

My friend, do not let fancy words and artful phrases arouse your interest and curiosity. Never read anything just to seem more learned or wise; rather, learn to stamp out your vices, for this will serve you better than knowing the answers to a whole list of hard questions.

Forsake all and you will find all; give up your desires and you will find rest.

Take pains to be patient in bearing the faults and weaknesses of others, for you too have many flaws that others must put up with. If you cannot make yourself as you would like to be, how can you expect to have another person entirely to your liking? We would willingly have others be perfect, and yet we fail to correct our own faults. We want others to be strictly corrected, and yet we are unwilling to be corrected ourselves. Other peoples’ far-ranging freedom annoys us, and yet we insist on having our own way. We wish others to be tied down by rules, and yet we will not allow ourselves to be held in check in any way at all.

Calm that excessive thirst for knowledge, for there is great discord and deception in it.