Quotes about Wisdom
There is naturally in every man a desire to know, but what profiteth knowledge without the fear of God?
— Thomas a Kempis
The more humble a man is in himself, and the more obedient towards God, the wiser will he be in all things, and the more shall his soul be at peace.
— Thomas a Kempis
Teach me, O Lord, to do Your will; teach me to live worthily and humbly in Your sight; for You are my wisdom, who know me truly, and who knew me before the world was made, and before I had my being.
— Thomas a Kempis
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. He is truly great who has great charity. He is truly great who is little in his own eyes and makes nothing of the highest honor. He is truly wise who looks upon all earthly things as folly that he may gain Christ. He who does God's will and renounces his own is truly very learned.
— Thomas a Kempis
Not every desire is from the Holy Spirit, even though it may seem right and good.
— Thomas a Kempis
If you wish to learn and appreciate something worth while, 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.
— Thomas a Kempis
To have no opinion of ourselves, and to think always well and highly of others, is great wisdom and perfection.
— Thomas a Kempis
Rest from inordinate desire or knowledge, for therein is found much distraction and deceit.
— Thomas a Kempis
Shun too great a desire for knowledge, for in it there is much fretting and delusion. Intellectuals like to appear learned and to be called wise. Yet there are many things the knowledge of which does little or no good to the soul, and he who concerns himself about other things than those which lead to salvation is very unwise.
— Thomas a Kempis
If all were perfect, what should we have to suffer from others for God's sake? But God has so ordained, that we may learn to bear with one another's burdens, for there is no man without fault, no man without burden, no man sufficient to himself nor wise enough. Hence we must support one another, console one another, mutually help, counsel, and advise, for the measure of every man's virtue is best revealed in time of adversity -- adversity that does not weaken a man but rather shows what he is.
— Thomas a Kempis
We must not trust every word of others or feeling within ourselves, but cautiously and patiently try the matter, whether it be of God.
— Thomas a Kempis
let not the weight of the writer be a stumbling-block to thee, whether he be of little or much learning, but let the love of the pure Truth draw thee to read.
— Thomas a Kempis