Introduction
The Imitation of Christ is a Christian devotional written by late medieval period author Thomas à Kempis. It’s one of the most popular Christian books of all time and one that I only just recently completed. How I wish I had read it sooner!
I found myself frequently stopping to reflect on the book’s profound commentaries about what it means to be a Christian. Thomas à Kempis relies on Christ’s own words, and examples from his life, to highlight attitudes and behaviors we often embrace that are in total opposition to the teachings of Jesus. He does so in a refreshingly candid way. There’s no window dressing, no attempts at massaging the message of Christ into something more palatable. It’s direct, frank even, and incredibly thought-provoking as a result.
This post serves as a collection of passages from The Imitation of Christ that stood out to me. They’re the ones that made me stop, set the book down, and ponder for a few minutes, letting it all sink in. The version I read was the Dover Thrifts Edition. It features a simple translation of the original text that made it easy to read and understand. Enjoy!
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I have often heard that it is safer to listen to advice and take it than to give it. It may happen, too, that while one's own opinion may be good, refusal to agree with others when reason and occasion demand it, is a sign of pride and obstinacy.
Book One, Chapter 9
The Imitation of Christ Quotes
I would rather feel contrition than know how to define it.
Book One, Chapter 1
Vanity of vanities and all is vanity, except to love God and serve him alone.
Book One, Chapter 1
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 desire things for which severe punishment later must come.
Book One, Chapter 1
Turn your heart from the love of things visible and bring yourself to things invisible.
Book One, Chapter 1
Intellectuals like to appear learned and to be called wise. Yet there are many things the knowledge of which does little or no good to the soul.
Book One, Chapter 2
Do not be proud, therefore, because of your learning or skill. Rather, fear because of the talent given you.
Book One, Chapter 2
The pure, simple, and steadfast spirit is not distracted by many labors, for he does them all for the honor of God.
Book One, Chapter 3
Who is forced to struggle more than he who tries to master himself? This ought to be our purpose, then: to conquer self, to become stronger each day, to advance in virtue.
Book One, Chapter 3
Humble knowledge of self is a surer path to God than the ardent pursuit of learning.
Book One, Chapter 3
If men used as much care in uprooting vices and implanting virtues as they do in discussing problems, there would not be so much evil and scandal in the world, or such laxity in religious organizations. On the day of judgement, surely, 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.
Book One, Chapter 3
He who does God’s will and renounces his own is truly very learned.
Book One, Chapter 3
How many there are who perish because of vain worldly knowledge and too little care for serving God.
Book One, Chapter 3
Not to act rashly or to cling obstinately to one’s opinion, not to believe everything people say or to spread abroad the gossip one has heard, is great wisdom.
Book One, Chapter 4
A good life makes a man wise according to God and gives him experience in many things, for the more humble he is and the more subject to God, the wiser and the more at peace he will be in all things.
Book One, Chapter 4
When a man desires a thing too much, he at once becomes ill at ease.
Book One, Chapter 6
Yet if he satisfies his desires, remorse of conscience overwhelms him because he followed his passions and they did not lead to the peace he sought.
Book One, Chapter 6
True peace of the heart, then, is found in resisting carnal passions, not in satisfying them.
Book One, Chapter 6
Do not take pride in your good deeds, for God’s judgments differ from those of men and what pleases them often displeases him.
Book One, Chapter 7
Do not open your heart to every man, but discuss your affairs with one who is wise and fears God.
Book One, Chapter 8
Do not fawn upon the rich, and do not be fond of mingling with the great. Associate with the humble and the simple, with the devout and virtuous, and with them speak of edifying things.
Book One, Chapter 8
Do not trust too much in your own opinions, but be willing to listen to those of others.
Book One, Chapter 9
I have often heard that it is safer to listen to advice and take it than to give it. It may happen, too, that while one’s own opinion may be good, refusal to agree with others when reason and occasion demand it, is a sign of pride and obstinacy.
Book One, Chapter 9
Many a time I wish that I had held my peace and had not associated with men. Why, indeed, do we converse and gossip among ourselves when we so seldom part without a troubled conscience?
Book One, Chapter 10
But, sad to say, we often talk vainly and to no purpose; for this external pleasure effectively bars inward and divine consolation.
Book One, Chapter 10
We should enjoy much peace if we did not concern ourselves with what others say and do, for these are no concern of ours.
Book One, Chapter 11
We are too occupied with our whims and fancies, too taken up with passing things.
Book One, Chapter 11
The greatest obstacle, indeed, the only obstacle, is that we are not free from passions and lusts.
Book One, Chapter 11
This when we encounter some slight difficulty, we are too easily dejected and turn to human consolations. If we tried, however, to stand as brave men in battle, the help of the Lord from heaven would surely sustain us.
Book One, Chapter 11
If you do not overcome small, trifling things, how will you overcome the more difficult?
Book One, Chapter 11
Therefore, a man ought to root himself so firmly in God that he will not need the consolations of men.
Book One, Chapter 12
When a man of good will is afflicted, tempted, and tormented by evil thoughts, he realizes clearly that his greatest need is God, without Whom he can do no good.
Book One, Chapter 12
There is no state so holy, no place so secret that temptations and trials will not come.
Book One, Chapter 13
Above all, we must be especially alert against the beginnings of temptation, for the enemy is more easily conquered if he is refused admittance to the mind and is met beyond the threshold when he knocks.
Book One, Chapter 13
The longer a man delays in resisting (temptation), so much the weaker does he become each day, while the strength of the enemy grows against him.
Book One, Chapter 13
If you rely more upon your intelligence or industry then upon the virtue of submission to Jesus Christ, you will hardly, and in any case slowly, become an enlightened man. God wants us to be completely subject to him and, through ardent love, to rise above all human wisdom.
Book One, Chapter 14
Turn your attention upon yourself and beware of judging the deeds of other men, for in judging others a man labors vainly, often makes mistakes, and easily sins; whereas, in judging and taking stock of himself he does something that is always profitable.
Book One, Chapter 14
We frequently judge that things are as we wish them to be, for through personal feeling true perspective is easily lost.
Book One, Chapter 14
You must learn to break your will in many things.
Book One, Chapter 17
If, after being admonished once or twice, a person does not amend, do no argue with him but commit the whole matter to God that his will and honor may be furthered in all his servants, for God knows well how to turn evil to good. Try to bear patiently with the defects and infirmities of others, whatever they may be, because you also have many a fault which others must endure.
Book One, Chapter 16
If you cannot make yourself what you wish to be, how can you bend others to your will? We want them to be perfect, yet we do not correct our own faults. We wish them to be severely corrected, yet we will not correct ourselves. Their great liberty displeases us, yet we would not be denied what we ask. We would have them bound by laws, yet we will allow ourselves to be restrained in nothing. Hence, it is clear how seldom we think of others as we do ourselves.
Book One, Chapter 16
Curb your appetite and you will more easily curb every inclination of the flesh. Never be completely unoccupied, but read or write or pray or meditate or do something for the common good.
Book One, Chapter 19
Beware of indifference to community prayer through love of your own devotions.
Book One, Chapter 19
If you withdraw yourself from unnecessary talking and idle running about, from listening to gossip and rumors, you will find enough time that is suitable for holy meditation.
Book One, Chapter 20
To stay at home is easier than to be sufficiently on guard while away. Anyone, then, who aims to live the inner and spiritual life must go apart, with Jesus, from the crowd.
Book One, Chapter 20
What great peace and tranquility would be his, if he cut himself off from all empty care and thought of things divine, things helpful to his soul, and put all his trust in God.
Book One, Chapter 20
Why wish to see what you are not permitted to have? Sensual craving sometimes entices you to wander around, but when the moment is past, what do you bring back with you save a disturbed conscience and a heavy heart?
Book One, Chapter 20
Leave vanity to the vain. Set yourself to the things which God has commanded you to do.
Book One, Chapter 20
Happy is the man who casts from him all that can stain or burden his conscience.
Book One, Chapter 21
Habit is overcome by habit.
Book One, Chapter 21
Do not busy yourself about the affairs of others and do not become entangled in the business of your superiors. Keep an eye primarily on yourself and admonish yourself instead of your friends.
Book One, Chapter 21
Man’s happiness does not consist in the possession of abundant goods; a very little is enough.
Book One, Chapter 22
The saints of God and all devout friends of Christ did not look to what pleases the body nor to the things that are popular from time to time. Their whole hope and aim centered on the everlasting good. Their whole desire pointed upward to the lasting and invisible realm.
Book One, Chapter 22
Unless you do violence to yourself you will not overcome vice.
Book One, Chapter 22
How great is the frailty of human nature which is ever prone to evil! Today you confess your sins and tomorrow you again commit the sins which you confessed. One moment you resolve to be careful, and yet after an hour you act as though you had made no resolution.
Book One, Chapter 22
Two things particularly further improvement - to withdraw oneself forcibly from those vices to which nature is viciously inclined, and to work fervently for those graces which are most needed.
Book One, Chapter 25
Always remember your end and do not forget that lost time never returns. Without care and diligence you will never acquire virtue.
Book One, Chapter 25
It is greater work to resist vices and passions than to sweat in physical toil.
Book One, Chapter 25
Watch over yourself, arouse yourself, warn yourself, and regardless of what becomes of others, do not neglect yourself. The more violence you do to yourself, the more progress you will make.
Book One, Chapter 25
Do not place much confidence in weak and mortal man. Place all your trust in God; let Him be your fear and your love. He will answer for you; He will do what is best for you.
Book Two, Chapter 1
A man who is a lover of Jesus and of truth, a truly interior man who is free from uncontrolled affections, can turn to God at will and rise above himself to enjoy spiritual peace.
Book Two, Chapter 1
He whose disposition is well ordered cares nothing about the strange, perverse behavior of others, for a man is upset and distracted only in proportion as he engrosses himself in externals.
Book Two, Chapter 1
Nothing so mars and defiles he heart of man as impure attachment to created things.
Book Two, Chapter 1
The malice of man cannot harm one who God wishes to help.
Book Two, Chapter 2
The humble man enjoys peace in the midst of many vexations, because his trust is in God, not in the world.
Book Two, Chapter 2
First keep peace with yourself; then you will be able to bring peace to others.
Book Two, Chapter 3
Direct your zeal, therefore, first upon yourself; then you may with justice exercise it upon those about you.
Book Two, Chapter 3
Simplicity and purity. Simplicity leads to God, purity embraces and enjoys Him.
Book Two, Chapter 4
If you aim at and seek after nothing but the pleasure of God and the welfare of your neighbor, you will enjoy freedom within.
Book Two, Chapter 4
There is no creature so small and worthless that it does not show forth the goodness of God.
Book Two, Chapter 4
As a man is within, so he judges what is without.
Book Two, Chapter 4
We must not rely too much upon ourselves.
Book Two, Chapter 5
We take others to task for small mistakes, and overlook the greater ones in ourselves. We are quick enough to feel and brood over the things we suffer from others, but we think nothing of how much others suffer from us.
Book Two, Chapter 5
You will never be devout of heart unless you are thus silent about the affairs of others and pay particular attention to yourself. If you attend wholly to God and yourself, you will be little disturbed by what you see about you.
Book Two, Chapter 5
God alone, the eternal and infinite, satisfies all, bringing comfort to the soul and true joy to the body.
Book Two, Chapter 5
If you consider well what you are within, you will not care what men say about you. They look to appearances but God looks to the heart. They consider the deed but God weighs the motive.
Book Two, Chapter 6
There is a great difference between the wisdom of an enlightened scholar and devout man and the learning of a well-read and brilliant scholar, for the knowledge which flows down from divine sources is much nobler than that laboriously acquired by human industry.
Book Three, Chapter 21
What is it to you if a man is such and such, if another does this or that? You will not have to answer for others, but you will have to give account of yourself. Why, then, do you meddle in their affairs?
Book Three, Chapter 24
Do not be anxious for the shadow of a great name, for the close friendship of many, or for the particular affection of men.
Book Three, Chapter 24
It often happens that a man seeks ardently after something he desires and then when he has attained it he begins to think that it is not at all desirable; for affections do not remain fixed on the same thing, but rather flit from one to another.
Book Three, Chapter 39
Your love for your friends should be grounded in Jesus. Without Him friendship has no strength and cannot endure. Love which I do not bind is neither true nor pure.
Book Three, Chapter 42
Man draws nearer to God in proportion as he withdraws himself farther from all earthly comfort.
Book Three, Chapter 42
Apply yourself to mortifying your vices, for this will benefit you more than the understanding of many difficult questions.
Book Three, Chapter 43
It is more profitable to turn away from things which displease you and to leave to every man his own opinion than to take part in quarrelsome talk.
Book Three, Chapter 44
If you completely conquer yourself, you will more easily subdue all other things. The perfect victory is to triumph over self.
Book Three, Chapter 53
God, eternal, incomprehensible, and infinitely powerful, does great and inscrutable things in heaven and on earth, and there is no searching into His marvelous works. If all the works of God were such that human reason could easily grasp them, they would not be called wonderful or beyond the power of words to tell.
Book Four, Chapter 18
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