How seldom we weigh our neighbor in the same balance with ourselves.
Thomas A KempisRead
If you cannot mould yourself entirely as you would wish, how can you expect other people to be entirely to your liking?
Interpretation
What this quote means
Self-awareness and acceptance are crucial for harmonious relationships with others.
This quote emphasizes the importance of personal growth and acceptance in relationships. It suggests that before expecting others to change or meet our standards, we should first focus on our own self-improvement and understanding, as it is unrealistic to demand perfection from others when we ourselves are not perfect.
Themes
Self-ImprovementRelationshipsExpectationsGrowthUnderstanding
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about personal development, this quote serves as a reminder to work on oneself before criticizing others.
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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