How seldom we weigh our neighbor in the same balance with ourselves.
Thomas A KempisRead
Set me free from evil passions, and heal my heart of all inordinate affections; that being inwardly cured and thoroughly cleansed, I may be made fit to love, courageous to suffer, steady to persevere.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the importance of overcoming negative emotions in order to love genuinely and face challenges with courage.
In this quote, Thomas A Kempis speaks to the necessity of freeing oneself from harmful desires and emotional disturbances. He suggests that true love requires a pure heart, which can only be achieved through healing from excessive passions and negative affections. By seeking inner cleansing and strength, one can cultivate the ability to love sincerely, endure suffering, and remain steadfast in adversity.
Themes
LoveCourageSufferingPurityPerseverance
In practice
Example use cases
During a speech on self-improvement, one could use this quote to highlight the importance of emotional healing before genuine connections can be formed.
More from Thomas A Kempis
All quotes →He will easily be content and at peace, whose conscience is pure.
Thomas A KempisRead
Trust not to your feelings for whatever they might be now, they will quickly be changed towards some other thing.
Thomas A KempisRead
Jesus has many who love the kingdom of God, but few who bear a cross. He has many who desire His comfort, but few who desire His suffering. All want to rejoice with him, but few are willing to suffer for Him. He writes; there are many who admire his miracles, but there are few who follow in the humiliation of the cross.
Thomas A KempisRead
Anyone who thinks hard work will never hurt you has never had to pay to have it done. Jesus now has many lovers of his Heavenly Kingdom, but few bearers of his cross.
Thomas A KempisRead
He has great tranquillity of heart who cares neither for the praises nor the fault-finding of men. He will easily be content and pacified, whose conscience is pure. You are not holier if you are praised, nor the more worthless if you are found fault with. What you are, that you are; neither by word can you be made greater than what you are in the sight of God.
Thomas A KempisRead
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