Thomas a Kempis

If you wish to stand and progress as you ought, hold yourself an exile and a pilgrim on the earth.

Learn to humble yourself you are but earth and clay.

What difference does it make to you what someone else becomes, or says, or does? You do not need to answer for others, only for yourself.

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

If you desire to know or learn anything to your advantage, then take delight in being unknown and unregarded. A true understanding and humble estimate of oneself is the highest and most valuable of all lessons.

Remember that lost time does not return.

Of two evils we must always choose the least.

Oh, how swiftly the glory of the world passes away!

If you carry your cross joyfully it will carry you.

The reflections on a day well spent furnish us with joys more pleasing than ten thousand triumphs.

Without labor there is no rest, nor without fighting can the victory be won.

Nothing is sweeter than love, nothing higher, nothing stronger, nothing larger, nothing more joyful, nothing fuller, and nothing better in heaven or on earth.

Nothing is sweeter than love, nothing stronger, nothing higher, nothing wider, nothing more pleasant, nothing fuller or better in heaven or earth; for love is born of God.

Never be entirely idle; but either be reading, or writing, or praying or meditating or endeavoring something for the public good.

Remember always your end, and that lost time does not return.

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

Watch for good times to retreat into yourself. Frequently meditate on how good God is to you.

How sweet it is to love, and to be dissolved, and as it were to bathe myself in thy love.

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