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The Imitation of Christ
Thomas à Kempis
The Third Chapter
GOODNESS AND PEACE IN MAN
FIRST keep peace with yourself; then you will be able to bring peace to others.
A peaceful man does more good than a learned man. Whereas a passionate man turns
even good to evil and is quick to believe evil, the peaceful man, being good
himself, turns all things to good.
The man who is at perfect ease is never suspicious, but the disturbed and
discontented spirit is upset by many a suspicion. He neither rests himself nor
permits others to do so. He often says what ought not to be said and leaves
undone what ought to be done. He is concerned with the duties of others but
neglects his own.
Direct your zeal, therefore, first upon yourself; then you may with justice
exercise it upon those about you. You are well versed in coloring your own
actions with excuses which you will not accept from others, though it would be
more just to accuse yourself and excuse your brother. If you wish men to bear
with you, you must bear with them. Behold, how far you are from true charity and
humility which does not know how to be angry with anyone, or to be indignant
save only against self!
It is no great thing to associate with the good and gentle, for such association
is naturally pleasing. Everyone enjoys a peaceful life and prefers persons of
congenial habits. But to be able to live at peace with harsh and perverse men,
or with the undisciplined and those who irritate us, is a great grace, a
praiseworthy and manly thing.
Some people live at peace with themselves and with their fellow men, but others
are never at peace with themselves nor do they bring it to anyone else. These
latter are a burden to everyone, but they are more of a burden to themselves. A
few, finally, live at peace with themselves and try to restore it to others.
Now, all our peace in this miserable life is found in humbly enduring suffering
rather than in being free from it. He who knows best how to suffer will enjoy
the greater peace, because he is the conqueror of himself, the master of the
world, a friend of Christ, and an heir of heaven.
