The Imitation of Christ. Thomas à Kempis
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more you know and the better you understand, the more severely you will be judged, unless your life is also the more holy. Do not be proud, therefore, because of your learning or skill. Rather, fear because of the talent given you. If you think you know many things and understand them well enough, realize at the same time that there is much you do not know. So do not affect wisdom, but admit your ignorance. Why prefer yourself to anyone else when many are better educated and more cultured than you?
If you wish to learn and appreciate something worthwhile, then love to be unknown and considered as nothing. Truly to know and despise self is the best and most perfect counsel. To think of oneself as nothing and always to think well and highly of others is the best and most perfect wisdom. Therefore, if you see another sin openly or commit a serious crime, do not consider yourself better, for you do not know how long you can remain in a good state. All men are frail, but you must admit that none is more frail than you.
Chapter Three
The Doctrine of Truth
Happy is the person to whom truth manifests itself, not in signs and words that fade, but as it actually is. Our opinions, our senses often deceive us, and we discern very little.
What good is it to speak much about involved and obscure matters when our ignorance of them will not be held against us on Judgment Day? It is great folly to neglect things that are profitable and necessary, while having undue concern for those that are irrelevant and harmful.
We have eyes and do not see.
What, therefore, do we have to do with questions of philosophy? The person to whom the Eternal Word speaks is free from theorizing. For all things are from this Word, and all things speak of him — the Beginning, who also speaks to us. Without this Word no one understands or judges correctly. The person to whom the Word becomes everything, who traces all things to it and sees all things in it, may ease his heart and remain at peace with God.
O God, you who are the truth, make me one with you in love everlasting. I am often wearied by the many things I hear and read, but in you is everything I long for. Let the learned be still, let all creatures be silent before you; you alone speak to me.
The more recollected one is, and the simpler of heart he becomes, the more easily he understands sublime things, for he receives the light of knowledge from above. The pure, simple, and steadfast spirit is not distracted by many labors, for he does them all for the honor of God. And since he enjoys interior peace, he seeks no selfish end in anything. What, indeed, gives more trouble and affliction than uncontrolled desires of the heart?
A good and devout man arranges in his mind the things he has to do, not according to the whims of evil inclination, but according to the dictates of right reason. 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.
Every perfection in this life has some imperfection mixed with it, and no learning of ours is without some darkness. Humble knowledge of self is a surer path to God than the ardent pursuit of learning. Not that learning is to be considered evil, or knowledge, which is good in itself and so ordained by God; but a clean conscience and virtuous life should always be preferred. Many often err and accomplish little or nothing because they try to become learned rather than to live well.
If people 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 judgment, surely, we will not be asked what we have read but what we have done; not how well we have spoken but how well we have lived.
Tell me, where now are all the masters and teachers whom you knew so well in life and who were famous for their learning? Others have already taken their places, and I do not know whether they ever think of their predecessors. During life they seemed to be something; now they are seldom remembered. How quickly the glory of the world passes away! If only their lives had kept pace with their learning, then their study and reading would have been worthwhile.
How many there are who perish because of vain worldly knowledge and too little care for serving God. They became vain in their own conceits because they chose to be great rather than humble.
The person who has great charity is truly great. The person who is little in his own eyes and makes nothing of the highest honor is truly great. The person who looks upon all earthly things as folly that he may gain Christ is truly wise. The person who does God’s will and renounces his own is truly very learned.
Chapter Four
Prudence in Action
Do not yield to every impulse and suggestion but consider things carefully and patiently in the light of God’s will. For very often, sad to say, we are so weak that we believe and speak evil of others rather than good. Perfect men, however, do not readily believe every talebearer, because they know that human frailty is prone to evil and is likely to appear in speech.
It is great wisdom 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.
Take counsel with a wise and conscientious man. Seek the advice of your betters in preference to following your own inclinations.
A good life makes a man wise according to God and gives him experience in many things, for the humbler he is and the more subject to God, the wiser and the more at peace he will be in all things.
Chapter Five
Reading Scripture
Truth, not eloquence, is to be sought in reading Scripture, and every part must be read in the spirit in which it was written. For in Scripture we ought to seek profit rather than polished diction.
Likewise, we ought to read simple and devout books as willingly as we read learned and profound ones. We should not be swayed by the authority of the writer, whether he be a great literary light or an insignificant person, but by the love of simple truth. We should not ask who is speaking, but mark what is said. Men pass away, but the truth of the Lord remains forever. God speaks to us in many ways without regard for persons.
Our curiosity often impedes our reading of the Scriptures, when we wish to understand and mull over what we ought simply to read and pass by.
If you want to profit from it, therefore, read with humility, simplicity, and faith, and never seek a reputation for being learned. Seek willingly and listen attentively to the words of the saints; do not be displeased with the sayings of the ancients, for they were not made without purpose.
Chapter Six
Un bridled Affections
When one desires a thing too much, he at once becomes ill at ease. A proud and greedy man never rests, whereas he who is poor and humble of heart lives in a world of peace. An unmortified man is quickly tempted and overcome in small, trifling evils; his spirit is weak, in a measure carnal and inclined to sensual things; he can hardly abstain from earthly desires. Thus it makes him sad to forgo them; he is quick to anger if reproved. 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.
True peace of heart, then, is found in resisting passions, not in satisfying them. There is no peace in the carnal man, in the man given to vain attractions, but there is peace in the fervent and spiritual man.
Chapter Seven
Avoiding False Hope and Pride
Vain is the person who puts his trust in human beings, in created things.
Do not be ashamed to serve others for the love of Jesus Christ and to seem poor in this world. Do not be self-sufficient, but place your trust in God.