Book 1, Chapter 2
1. Need of knowledge is human nature, but what is use of knowledge if we do not fear God?A farmer who is humble and serve God, is better than a proud philosopher who, investigates the science of astronomy, but not taking into account of his soul.
1. Need of knowledge is human nature, but what is use of knowledge if we do not fear God?A farmer who is humble and serve God, is better than a proud philosopher who, investigates the science of astronomy, but not taking into account of his soul.
One who knows himself well, will feel humiliated and do not feel happy for man compliment .
If I know everything, but if I do not have love, what use is it for me to God who will judge me according to my deed?
2. Let us throw away all desire for knowledge beyond the limit, because it just raises a lot of confusion and only disappointment.
Those who have a lot of knowledge usually like to be known and called smart people.
Full of knowledge that is less, or even not at all beneficial to the soul.
It's not wise of a man to pursue anything, unless that is useful for the salvation of his soul.
Much talking about knowledge do not satisfy the soul, but righteous living will soothe your heart and pure heart will make our relationship with God more closely and intimately.
3. The more extensive and deep of our knowledge, the harder we will be judged, if our lives do not become more virtuous balanced by it.
Therefore let us not boast our skills or knowledge, but we had better be afraid of the responsibility for the knowledge given to us.
If we suppose that we know many things and feel understand about those things, remember, that there are many other things that we do not know.
Do not have a high presumption of yourself (Rm 11:20), but admit, that we lack of knowledge.
Why do we consider ourselves higher than others, while still many others who are more proficient in the rules of religion than we are?
If we want to know and learn what is useful to us, we should prefer to remain obscure and ignored by common.
A good suggestion and the most useful are: truly know yourself and see yourself as a humble person.
Do not like yourself and always think, that other people are kind and friendly, it is a very wise and perfect nature.
Even if we see other people sinned even doing great crime, do not ever think, that we are better than them. Because we ourselves do not know how long we will remain strong in pretty good state. We are all weak, but we should not assume that others are weaker than us.
Thomas a Kempis. Of 1987. The Imitation of Christ. Penerbit Obor. Page 3-5
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