Quotes about Wisdom
For all that is high is not holy, nor is everything that is sweet good; every desire is not pure; nor is everything that is dear to us pleasing unto God. Willingly do I accept that grace whereby I am made humbler and more wary and more ready to renounce myself. He who is made learned by the gift of grace and taught wisdom by the stroke of the withdrawal thereof, will not dare to claim any good thing for himself, but will rather confess that he is poor and needy.
— Thomas a Kempis
1. To account nothing of one's self, and to think always kindly and highly of others, this is great and perfect wisdom. Even shouldest thou see thy neighbour sin openly or grievously, yet thou oughtest not to reckon thyself better than he, for thou knowest not how long thou shalt keep thine integrity. All of us are weak and frail; hold thou no man more frail than thyself.
— Thomas a Kempis
As often as I have been among men, I have returned home a lesser man.
— Thomas a Kempis
given to thee. If it seemeth to thee that thou knowest many things, and understandest them well, know also that there are many more things which thou knowest
— Thomas a Kempis
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
We are not wise in ourselves.7 So we must support one another,8 be tolerant of each other,9 help, teach and advise one another. It is in times of trouble that we really discover the true value of our helpers. They do not weaken us, but reveal their true nature.
— Thomas a Kempis
The resolve of the just depends upon the grace of God, not on their own wisdom; in Him they trust, whatever they undertake. For man proposes, but God disposes; it is not for man to choose his lot.
— Thomas a Kempis
The more a man hath unity and simplicity in himself, the more things and the deeper things he understandeth;
— Thomas a Kempis
However, because many endeavor to get knowledge rather than live well, they are often deceived and get no or very little benefits.
— Thomas a Kempis
It is vanity to wish for a long life and to care little about a well-spent life.
— Thomas a Kempis
Therefore, whatsoever seemeth to thee desirable, thou must always desire and seek after it with the fear of God and humility of heart, and most of all, must altogether resign thyself, and commit all unto Me and say, 'Lord, thou knowest what is best; let this or that be, according as Thou wilt.
— Thomas a Kempis
We can't have full knowledge all at once. We must start by believing then afterwards we may be led on to master the evidence for ourselves.
— St. Thomas Aquinas