How seldom we weigh our neighbor in the same balance with ourselves.
Thomas A KempisRead
A man is hindered and distracted in proportion as he draws outward things to himself.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Focusing too much on external possessions can lead to distraction and hinder personal growth.
This quote suggests that when individuals become overly attached to material possessions and external circumstances, it can impede their clarity of thought and spiritual development. True fulfillment comes from within, and the more one seeks validation and distractions from the outside world, the less they are able to focus on their inner peace and growth.
Themes
DistractionInner PeaceMaterialismGrowthFocus
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about minimalism and reducing distractions, this quote can emphasize the importance of focusing on inner values.
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
Similar quotes
Yes, vanity is a weakness indeed. But pride - where there is a real superiority of mind, pride will be always under good regulation.
Jane AustenRead
I cured myself of shyness when it finally occurred to me that people didn't think about me half as much as I gave them credit for. The truth was, nobody gave a damn. Like most teenagers, I was far too self-centered. When I stopped being prisoner to what I worried was others’ opinions of me, I became more confident and free.
Lucille BallRead
He that struggles with us strengthens our nerves, and sharpens our skill. Our antagonist is our helper.
Edmund BurkeRead
Let the unseen days be. Today is more than enough.
J. R. R. TolkienRead
Our sadness is an energy we discharge in order to heal. …Sadness is painful. We try to avoid it. Actually discharging sadness releases the energy involved in our emotional pain. To hold it in is to freeze the pain within us. The therapeutic slogan is that grieving is the ‘healing feeling.’
John BradshawRead
Knowledge, or verbal facility, is no proof that you know what you're talking about.
Terence MckennaRead