The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations Preface

8.27 Thomas á Kempis c.1380-1471
Opto magis sentire compunctionem: quam scire eius definitionem.
I would far rather feel remorse than know how to define it.
‘De Imitatione Christi’ bk. 1, ch. 1, sect. 3
O quam cito transit gloria mundi.
Oh how quickly the glory of the world passes away!
‘De Imitatione Christi’ bk. 1, ch. 3, sect. 6.
Non quaeras quis hoc dixerit: sed, quid dicitur attende.
Seek not to know who said this or that, but take note of what has been said.
‘De Imitatione Christi’ bk. 1, ch. 5, sect. 1
Multo tutius est stave in subiectione: quam in praelatura.
It is much safer to be in a subordinate position than in authority.
‘De Imitatione Christi’ bk. 1, ch. 9, sect. 1
Nam homo proponit, sed Deus disponit.
Man proposes, but God disposes.
‘De Imitatione Christi’ bk. 1, ch. 19, sect. 2
Numquam sis ex toto otiosus, sed aut legens, aut scribens, aut orans, aut meditans, aut aliquid
utilitatis pro communi laborans.
Never be completely idle, but either reading, or writing, or praying, or meditating, or at some
useful work for the common good.
‘De Imitatione Christi’ bk. 1, ch. 9, sect. 4
Hodie homo est: et cras non comparet. Cum autem sublatus fuerit ab oculis: etiam cito transit a
mente.
Today the man is here; tomorrow he is gone. And when he is ‘out of sight’, quickly also is he
out of mind.
‘De Imitatione Christi’ bk. 1, ch. 23, sect. 1
Utinam per unam diem bene essemus conversati in hoc mundo.
Would that we had spent one whole day well in this world!
‘De Imitatione Christi’ bk. 1, ch. 23, sect. 2
Passione interdum movemur: et zelum putamus.
We are sometimes stirred by emotion and take it for zeal.
‘De Imitatione Christi’ bk. 2, ch. 5, sect. 1
Si libenter crucem portas portabit te.
If you bear the cross gladly, it will bear you.
‘De Imitatione Christi’ bk. 2, ch. 12, sect. 5
De duobus malis minus est semper eligendum.
Of the two evils the lesser is always to be chosen.