On adversity...

"Adversity is the best test of virtue.  The occasions of sin do not weaken anyone; on the contrary, they show that person's true worth."

Imitation of Christ, Book One, Chapter Sixteen

We must bear one another's burdens...

"God wills us to learn to bear one another's burdens.  No one is without faults, no one without a cross, no one self-sufficient and no one wise enough all alone.  Therefore, we must support, comfort and assist one another in all charity."  

Imitation of Christ, Book One, Chapter Sixteen

A good perspective...

"If everyone was perfect, what would we have to endure for the love of God?"

Imitation of Christ, Book One, Chapter Sixteen

Why are we easy on ourselves but hard on others?

"We want to have others strictly reprimanded for their offenses, but we will not be reprimanded ourselves.  We are inclined to think the other person has too much liberty, but we ourselves will not put up with any restraint.  There must be rules for everyone else, but we must be given free rein.  It is seldom that we consider our neighbor equally with ourselves."

Imitation of Christ, Book One, Chapter Sixteen

The plank in our own eye...

"Learn how to be patient in enduring the faults of others, remembering that you yourself have many which others have to put up with.  If you cannot make yourself be what you would like, how can you expect another to be as you would like?  We wish to see perfection in others, but do not correct our own faults."

Imitation of Christ, Book One, Chapter Sixteen

Place all in God's hands...

"If once or twice you have warned someone and that person does not comply, do not contend further with such a one, but leave all in the hands of God, that His will be done and that He be glorified in all His servants, for He knows well how to turn evil into good."

Imitation of Christ, Book One, Chapter Sixteen

On bearing with the defects of others...

"There will always be defects in ourselves or others which we cannot correct. These we must simply tolerate until God in His goodness sees fit to change things.  After all, this may be the best possible way to prove our patience, without which our good qualities are not worth much.

Nevertheless, you must pray earnestly that God in His mercy will help you bear these impediments with patience."

Imitation of Christ, Book One, Chapter Sixteen

On true charity...

"True charity is not self-seeking, but goes all the way for the honor and glory of God.  Those who are charitable envy no one, nor do they seek their own pleasure, but desire above all things to find their joy in God.

How well they know that no good begins in humans and so they refer all to God, from Whom all things come and in Whom all the Saints find their eternal blessedness.  If they had only a spark of real charity, they would know in their souls that all earthly things are vain."

Imitation of Christ, Book One, Chapter Fifteen

Discerning between charity and self-love...

"Those who love God much do much, and those do a deed well who perform it for the common good and not to please themselves.  Often what appears to be charity is really done for carnal motives--self-love, the hope of reward or some personal advantage seldom being absent."

Imitation of Christ, Book One, Chapter Fifteen

Do everything with love...

"Without charity the outward deed is worthless; but whatever is done out of charity, no matter how small and insignificant, is profitable in the eyes of God, Who looks not so much at what we do, as to the love with which we do it."

Imitation of Christ, Book One, Chapter Fifteen

Transformation...

"Never is evil to be done for any worldly gain nor for love of any human being. But there are times when a good deed may be deferred for the benefit of one who is in need, or can be changed to a better deed.  In that way the good planned is not undone, but rather is transformed into something better."

Imitation of Christ, Book One, Chapter Fifteen

On humble obedience to Christ...

"An old habit is not easily overcome, and people are reluctant to be led beyond their own views.  If you cling more to your own reason or will rather than to humble obedience of Jesus Christ, you will only with difficulty become an enlightened person.  For it is the will of God that we be perfectly subject to Him, rising above our own reason and will by an ardent love."

Imitation of Christ, Book One, Chapter Fourteen

Running into walls...

"As long as things go their way, they appear to be at peace, but if they meet opposition, they become impatient and depressed.  Often through diversities of opinions dissension springs up between friends and neighbors and even among religious and devout persons."

Imitation of Christ, Book One, Chapter Fourteen

On being self-seeking...

"But there is often in us some inward tendency or some outward attraction which carries us along with it.  Many are secretly self-seeking and therefore do their own will and not the will of God, though sometimes they are unaware of it."

Imitation of Christ, Book One, Chapter Fourteen

On humble obedience...

"An old habit is not easily overcome, and people are reluctant to be led beyond their own views.  If you cling more to your own reason or will rather than to humble obedience of Jesus Christ, you will only with difficulty become an enlightened person.  For it is the will of God that we be perfectly subject to Him, rising above our own reason and will by an ardent love."

Imitation of Christ, Book One, Chapter Fourteen

Don't be a mule...

"We often judge a thing according to our preference and therefore our judgment is emotional rather than objective.  This stubbornness in our own opinions would not dominate our judgments if our hearts were set on God."

Imitation of Christ, Book One, Chapter Fourteen

On avoiding hasty judgments...

"Watch over yourself and take care not to judge the actions of other people.  We gain nothing by criticizing others, but often are mistaken and thereby offend God.  But to judge yourself and your own actions is always profitable."

Imitation of Christ, Book One, Chapter Fourteen

Petty faults

"Some people are kept from grave temptations and yet every day they fall into the same petty faults.  God in His merciful goodness permits this to keep them humble, so that they will not trust in themselves, seeing how easily they are daily overcome."

Imitation of Christ, Book One, Chapter Thirteen

Endure patiently...

"Through temptations and trials our spiritual progress is tested.  If we are fervent and devout and unaware of any difficulties, it is no credit to us; but if we endure patiently in the time of temptation or adversity, then our spiritual advancement is apparent."

Imitation of Christ, Book One, Chapter Thirteen

He reaches down to the humble and lowly...

"Let us humbly submit ourselves to God in all trials and temptations, for it is the humble and submissive that He will save and exalt." (Ps 34:19)

Imitation of Christ, Book One, Chapter Thirteen

In times of temptation, quickly turn to prayer...

"We should not be discouraged when tempted, but turn in fervent prayer to God, Who, in His infinite goodness and compassion, will help us in all our needs. "St. Paul has said that "together with the trial He will also provide a way out and the strength to bear it." (1 Cor 10:13).

Imitation of Christ, Book One, Chapter Thirteen

Just like people, temptations vary...

"Temptations differ with different people: some are greatly tempted in the first stages of turning to God; some have it in their later days; while still others have it all their lives, and there are also those who are only lightly tempted.  But it is all part of God's plan for us, Whose wisdom and justice knows each person's state and orders all things rightly for the salvation of His elect."

Imitation of Christ, Book One, Chapter Thirteen

Do not be slow to resist temptation...

"This is how temptation is: first we have a thought, followed by strong imaginings, then the pleasure and evil emotions, and finally consent.  This is how the enemy gains full admittance, because he was not resisted at the outset.  The slower we are to resist, the weaker we daily become and the stronger the enemy is against us."

Imitation of Christ, Book One, Chapter Thirteen

Keep watch...

"In the early stages of temptation it is necessary to be watchful, for it is easier to overcome the enemy if he is not allowed to enter into your mind, but is resisted and shut out as soon as he knocks.  As someone has said: "Resist the beginning; the cure applied afterward is too late."

Imitation of Christ, Book One, Chapter Thirteen

Against inconstancy...

"The beginning of all evil temptations is inconstancy of mind and insufficient trust in God.  Just as a ship without a rudder is tossed about with every storm, so those who are negligent and abandon their good resolutions are tempted in diverse ways.  Gold is tried by fire and the upright person by temptation.  Often we do not know what we can do until temptation shows us what we are."

Imitation of Christ, Book One, Chapter Thirteen

Seek a wise counselor...

"When you are tempted seek the advice of a wise counselor, and do not yourself be harsh with persons who are tempted; rather be happy to console them as you would wish to be consoled."

Imitation of Christ, Book One, Chapter Thirteen

With God's grace we can root out our temptations...

"Those who only shun them outwardly and do not pull them out by the roots will make no progress; for temptations will soon return to harass them and they will be in a worse state.  It is only gradually--with patience and endurance and with God's grace--that you will overcome temptations sooner than by your own efforts and anxieties."

Imitation of Christ, Book One, Chapter Thirteen

Only by patience and humility...

"Many try to fly away from temptations only to fall more deeply into them; for you cannot win a battle by mere flight.  It is only by patience and humility that you will be strengthened against the enemy."

Imitation of Christ, Book One, Chapter 13

Trials are a part of this life...

"As soon as one temptation or trial goes, another comes.  We will always have something to suffer because we have lost our original state of happiness."

Imitation of Christ, Book One, Chapter Thirteen

More on resisting temptation...

"There is no place so holy or so remote where you will not meet with temptation, nor is there anyone completely free from it in this life; for in our body we wear the wounds of sin--the weakness of our human nature in which we were born."

Imitation of Christ, Book One, Chapter Thirteen

Shipwrecked or on course...

"Sometimes these temptations can be very severe and troublesome, but if we resist them, they will be very useful to us; for by experiencing them we are humbled, cleansed and instructed.  All the Saints endured tribulation and temptations and profited by them. while those who did not resist and overcome them fell away and were lost."

Imitation of Christ, Book One, Chapter Thirteen