Please not thyself for thy ability or for thy wit lest thou displease God of whom cometh all the good that thou hast naturally.
Account not thyself better than others, lest peradventure thou be held worse in the sight of God that knoweth what is in man.
Be not proud of good works; for God’s judgments are otherwise than thine. Ofttimes what pleaseth man displeaseth God.
If thou hast any good things in thee believe better things of others that thou mayest keep thy humility.
It hurteth thee not to be set under all men: it might hinder thee if thou settest thyself afore others.
Continual peace is with the meek man, but in the heart of the proud man are often envy and indignation.
Thomas à Kempis was born in the latter part of the fourteenth century and lived to a good old age. His name in full was Thomas Haemercken, but as he was born in the town of Kempen he has been generally known by the title above given. The Imitation was written slowly, a little at a time, and as the result of reading, reflection and prayer.
The very brief selections given above are condensed from the first ten chapters of the first book. While in the main following the best translation of the original, the language has been simplified in a few places.