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