Thomas a Kempis Quotes

I don't think that one should beat himself or herself over the head if immediately you're not like Jesus Christ or, you know, Gandhi or whoever. But I think the idea is to... to look at those examples and try to... try to operate in a way that every day you live or every interaction you have pushes you further along to operating with that mindset.

If history records good things about good people, the thoughtful hearer is encouraged to imitate what is good; or if it records the evil of wicked people, the godly listener or reader is encouraged to avoid all that is sinful and bad, and to do what he knows to be good and pleasing to God.

All your scholarship, all your study of Shakespeare and Wordsworth would be in vain, if at the same time you do not build your character, and attain mastery over your thoughts and actions.

To gain the spiritual ascendancy over ourselves, and the influences with which we are surrounded, through a rigid course of self-discipline, is our first consideration, it is our first labor, before we can pave the way for our children to grow up without sin unto salvation.

The superior man honors his virtuous nature, and maintains constant inquiry and study, seeking to carry it out to its breadth and greatness, so as to omit none of the more exquisite and minute points which it embraces, and to raise it to its greatest height and brilliancy.

When you see a good man, think of emulating him; when you see a bad man, examine your own heart.

As to virtue . . . it is an act of the will, a habit which increases the quantity, intensity and quality of life. It builds up, strengthens and vivifies personality.

We must become the people we want our children to be.

Integrity is not something that grownups have and adolescents can aspire to. Integrity is something that all of us, at all ages, are constantly striving for.

There is but one pursuit in life which it is in the power of all to follow, and of all to attain. It is subject to no disappointments, since he that perseveres, makes every difficulty an advancement, and every contest a victory; and this is the pursuit of virtue.

Jesus always pointed people towards a better version of themselves - particularly when they'd failed.

Growing up, I looked to people who had the same issues as me and were still living great lives.

When we see men of worth, we should think of equalling them; when we see men of a contrary character, we should turn inward and examine ourselves.

To be good, we must do good; and by doing good we take a sure means of being good, as the use and exercise of the muscles increase their power.

I'm trying figuring out how to be the best person I can be. But it's been a process of trial and error.

Parents can only give good advice or put them on the right paths, but the final forming of a person's character lies in their own hands.

Virtue comes by nature, learning, and practice, and thanks to virtue, all of the aforesaid may deserve approval.

Character has to be established through a thousand stumbles.

Children are primed to take in something of more moral value than they're getting. I know I'm blowing my own horn here, but 'E.T.' had value to it in terms of the feeling about yourself that you walked away with.

If anyone says you are bad, this mean he wants you to be good, and I am here to be good, and I want to be good. If they say I have done bad, then they should also give me a chance to change myself for good.

Your heroes will help you find good in yourself.

It is a momentous fact that a man may be good, or he may be bad; his life may be true, or it may be false; it may be either a shame or a glory to him. The good man builds himself up; the bad man destroys himself.

Virtue does not come from wealth, but wealth, and every other good thing which men have comes from virtue.

A good man doesn't just happen. They have to be created by us women. A guy is a lump like this doughnut.

We are in truth, more than half what we are by imitation. The great point is to choose good models and to study them with care.