How seldom we weigh our neighbor in the same balance with ourselves.
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
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.
Trust not to your feelings for whatever they might be now, they will quickly be changed towards some other thing.
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.
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.
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.
Similar quotes
The number 143 means 'I love you.' It takes one letter to say 'I' and four letters to say 'love' and three letters to say 'you.' One hundred and forty-three. 'I love you.' Isn't that wonderful?
Were spirits free from mortal mesh_x000D_ _x000D_ And love not bound in hearts of flesh_x000D_ _x000D_ No aching breasts would yearn to meet_x000D_ _x000D_ And find their ecstasy complete._x000D_ _x000D_ For who is there that lives and knows_x000D_ _x000D_ The secret powers by which he grows?
Selfish persons are incapable of loving others, but they are not capable of loving themselves either.
If someone is capable of loving his partner without restrictions, unconditionally, then he is manifesting the love of God. If the love of God becomes manifest, he will love his neighbor. If he loves his neighbor, he will love himself. If he loves himself, then everything returns to its proper place.
Love like there's no tomorrow; live like there's no yesterday. We're forgiven; now go love people like we believe it
I was glad I wasn't in love, that I wasn't happy with the world. I like being at odds with everything. People in love often become edgy, dangerous. They lose their sense of perspective. They lose their sense of humor. They become nervous, psychotic bores. They even become killers.