the imitation of Christ, the 3rd book: chapter xxviii (against the tongues of detractors)

AGAINST THE TONGUES OF DETRACTORS “My Son, take it not sadly to heart, if any think ill of you, and say of you what you are unwilling to hear. You ought to think worse of yourself, and to believe no man weaker than yourself. If you walk inwardly, you will not weigh flying words above [...]

the imitation of Christ, the 2nd book: chapter v (self-esteem)

OF SELF-ESTEEM “We cannot place too little confidence in ourselves because grace and understanding are often lacking to us. Little light is there within us, and what we have we quickly lose by negligence. Oftentimes we perceive not how great is our inward blindness; we often do ill and excuse it worse. Sometimes we are [...]

the imitation of Christ, the 1st book: chapter xx (the love of solitude and silence)

OF THE LOVE OF SOLITUDE AND SILENCE “In silence and quiet the devout soul goes forward and learns the hidden things of the Scriptures. Therein finds she a fountain of tears, wherein to wash and cleanse herself each night, that she may grow the more dear to her Maker as she dwells the further from [...]

the imitation of Christ, the 1st book: chapter xx (the love of solitude and silence)

OF THE LOVE OF SOLITUDE AND SILENCE “Seek a suitable time for your meditation and think frequently of the mercies of God to you. Leave curious questions. Study such matters as bring you sorrow for sin, rather than amusement. If you withdraw yourself from trifling conversation and idle goings about, as well as from novelties [...]

the imitation of christ, the 1st book: chapter iii (of the knowledge of truth)

“Happy is the man whom Truth by itself does teach, not by figures and transient words, but as it is in itself. Our own judgment and feelings often deceive us, and we discern but little of the truth. What does it profit to argue about hidden and dark things, concerning which we shall not be [...]