--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A lowly knowledge of thyself is a surer…" description: "\"“A lowly knowledge of thyself is a surer way to God than the deep searching of a man’s learnings. Not that learning is to be blamed, nor the taking acc..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/812/thomas-a-kempis-721_holy-life_a-lowly-knowledge-of-thyself-is-a-surer_362161.jpg" --- # A lowly knowledge of thyself is a surer way to God than… ![“A lowly knowledge of thyself is a surer way to God than the deep searching of a man’s learnings. Not that learning is to be blamed, nor the taking account of anything that is good; but a good conscience and a holy life is better than all. And because many seek knowledge rather than good living…” quote by Thomas à Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/812/thomas-a-kempis-721_holy-life_a-lowly-knowledge-of-thyself-is-a-surer_362161.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/812/thomas-a-kempis-721_holy-life_a-lowly-knowledge-of-thyself-is-a-surer_362161.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/812/thomas-a-kempis-721_holy-life_a-lowly-knowledge-of-thyself-is-a-surer_362161.jpg) > ““A lowly knowledge of thyself is a surer way to God than the deep searching of a man’s learnings. Not that learning is to be blamed, nor the taking account of anything that is good; but a good conscience and a holy life is better than all. And because many seek knowledge rather than good living, therefore they go astray, and bear little or no fruit.”” [Thomas à Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True wisdom lies in self‑knowledge and moral living, not merely in academic learning; a clear conscience and holy life surpass intellectual pursuits. **In simple terms:** Knowing yourself and living virtuously is more important than learning alone. Key Takeaway Prioritize inner goodness over mere knowledge. Themes self‑knowledge morality spirituality humility Mood reflective serene inspirational Type philosophical spiritual advice When to use this quote - personal development - spiritual practice - education - career counseling Key Concepts conscience ethical living inner growth Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance learning with ethical living? - What practices nurture a good conscience? A Different Perspective Intellectual knowledge without moral grounding can lead to emptiness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conscience Holy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscience-holy-2796905/) [Holy life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holy-life/) [Knowledge Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge-good-279499/) [Knowledge Thyself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge-thyself-2191150/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Lowly Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lowly-knowledge-3322762/) [Seek Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seek-knowledge-459655/) ## Related quotes > [When my conscience under the Holy Spirit makes me aware of a specific sin I should at once call that sin sin and bring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/when-my-conscience-under-the-holy-spirit-makes-me-aware-of-a-specific-2/) [Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/) > [A knowledge of thyself will preserve thee from vanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes/a-knowledge-of-thyself-will-preserve-thee-from-vanity/) [Miguel de Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes/) > [In mortals there is a care for trifles which proceeds from love and conscience, and is most holy; and a care for trifles which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/in-mortals-there-is-a-care-for-trifles-which-proceeds-from-love-and/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [An humble knowledge of thyself is a surer way to God than a deep search after learning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/an-humble-knowledge-of-thyself-is-a-surer-way-to-god-than-a-deep/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When my conscience under the Holy Spirit makes me aware of a specific sin I should at once call that sin sin and bring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/when-my-conscience-under-the-holy-spirit-makes-me-aware-of-a-specific/) [Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/) > [Only by knowledge of that which is not thyself, shall thyself be learned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bulwer-lytton-1st-earl-of-lytton/only-by-knowledge-of-that-which-is-not-thyself-shall-thyself-be/) [Robert Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Earl of Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bulwer-lytton-1st-earl-of-lytton/) > [“It is a hard thing to break through a habit and a yet harder thing to go contrary to our own will. Yet if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/it-is-a-hard-thing-to-break-through-a-habit-and-a-yet-harder-thing-to/) [Thomas à Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [“Knowledge is good, method is good, but one thing beyond all others is necessary; and that is to have a head, not a pumpkin,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-e-housman-2/knowledge-is-good-method-is-good-but-one-thing-beyond-all-others-is/) [A.E. Housman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-e-housman-2/) > [A scholar's business is to add to what is known. That is all. But it is capable of giving the very greatest satisfaction, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/a-scholar-s-business-is-to-add-to-what-is-known-that-is-all-but-it-is/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [It's where we're nearest to our humanness. Useless knowledge for its own sake. Useful knowledge is good, too, but it's for the faint-hearted, an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/it-s-where-we-re-nearest-to-our-humanness-useless-knowledge-for-its/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [“Wisdom is the insightful quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-zhu/wisdom-is-the-insightful-quality-of-having-experience-knowledge-and/) [Pearl Zhu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-zhu/) > [Every branch of knowledge which a good man possesses, he may apply to some good purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudius-buchanan/every-branch-of-knowledge-which-a-good-man-possesses-he-may-apply-to/) [Claudius Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudius-buchanan/) > [In addition to innocence, we have to have knowledge of good and evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/in-addition-to-innocence-we-have-to-have-knowledge-of-good-and-evil/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“We are unknown to ourselves, we men of knowledge--and with good reason. We have never sought ourselves--how could it happen that we should ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/we-are-unknown-to-ourselves-we-men-of-knowledge-and-with-good-reason/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [In a global economy where the most valuable skill you can sell is your knowledge, a good education is no longer just a pathway…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/in-a-global-economy-where-the-most-valuable-skill-you-can-sell-is/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## More by Thomas à Kempis > [Have therefore zeal to better thyself and then mayst thou have zeal to thy neighbor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/have-therefore-zeal-to-better-thyself-and-then-mayst-thou-have-zeal/) [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [And if thy heart be straight with God then every creature shall be to thee a mirror of life and a book of holy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/and-if-thy-heart-be-straight-with-god-then-every-creature-shall-be-to/) [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [Patience is necessary in this life because so much of life is fraught with adversity. No matter how hard we try, our lives will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/patience-is-necessary-in-this-life-because-so-much-of-life-is-fraught/) [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [To take no account of oneself, but always to think well and highly of others is the highest wisdom and perfection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/to-take-no-account-of-oneself-but-always-to-think-well-and-highly-of/) [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [It is easier not to speak a word at all than to speak more words than we should.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/it-is-easier-not-to-speak-a-word-at-all-than-to-speak-more-words-than/) [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [Be Yourself -The man who is neither bent upon pleasing his fellows nor afraid of offending them will enjoy great peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/be-yourself-the-man-who-is-neither-bent-upon-pleasing-his-fellows-nor/) [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [“0 true and heavenly grace, without which our own merits are nothing, and our natural gifts of no account! Neither arts nor riches, beauty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/0-true-and-heavenly-grace-without-which-our-own-merits-are-nothing/) [Thomas à Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [If you would endeavor, like men of courage, to stand in the battle, surely we would feel the favorable assistance of God from heaven.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/if-you-would-endeavor-like-men-of-courage-to-stand-in-the-battle/) [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [“No man safely goeth abroad who loveth not to rest at home. No man safely talketh but he who loveth to hold his peace.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/no-man-safely-goeth-abroad-who-loveth-not-to-rest-at-home-no-man/) [Thomas à Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [“Nature has a relish for knowing secrets and hearing news. It wishes to appear abroad and to have sense experiences. It wishes to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/nature-has-a-relish-for-knowing-secrets-and-hearing-news-it-wishes-to/) [Thomas à Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [Love is watchful. Sleeping, it does not slumber. Wearied, it is not tired. Pressed, it is not straitened. Alarmed, it is not confused, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/love-is-watchful-sleeping-it-does-not-slumber-wearied-it-is-not-tired/) [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [If you bear the cross gladly, it will bear you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/if-you-bear-the-cross-gladly-it-will-bear-you/) [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [Be thankful for the smallest blessing, and you will be worthy to receive greater.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/be-thankful-for-the-smallest-blessing-and-you-will-be-worthy-to/) [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [If you cast away one cross, you will certainly find another, and perhaps a heavier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/if-you-cast-away-one-cross-you-will-certainly-find-another-and/) [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [Dispose thyself to patience rather than to comfort, and to the bearing of the cross rather than to gladness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/dispose-thyself-to-patience-rather-than-to-comfort-and-to-the-bearing/) [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) [Explore all 387 Thomas à Kempis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) ## More Holy life quotes > [If you been living in sin, going to the clubs, etc... and live an earthly life and not a holy life, the GOD who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-been-living-in-sin-going-to-the-clubs-etc-and-live-an-earthly/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We know certainly that our God calls us to a holy life. We know that he gives us every grace, every abundant grace; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-ann-seton/we-know-certainly-that-our-god-calls-us-to-a-holy-life-we-know-that/) [Elizabeth Ann Seton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-ann-seton/) > [At times one hesitates to reprove or admonish evil-doers, either because one seeks a more favorable moment or fears his rebuke might make them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustine/at-times-one-hesitates-to-reprove-or-admonish-evil-doers-either/) [Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustine/) > [We may not all live holy lives, but we live in a world alive with holy moments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-nerburn/we-may-not-all-live-holy-lives-but-we-live-in-a-world-alive-with-holy/) [Kent Nerburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-nerburn/) > [For everything that lives is holy, life delights in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/for-everything-that-lives-is-holy-life-delights-in-life/) [William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) > [True zeal is connected with a holy life. It is remarkable how often the greatest zealots for God, the Church, and sound doctrine (as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-hodge/true-zeal-is-connected-with-a-holy-life-it-is-remarkable-how-often/) [Charles Hodge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-hodge/) > [Ancient worship . . . does truth. All one has to do is to study the ancient liturgies to see that liturgies clearly do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-webber/ancient-worship-does-truth-all-one-has-to-do-is-to-study-the-ancient/) [Robert E. Webber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-webber/) > [Much though he recites the sacred texts, but acts not accordingly, that heedless man is like a cowherd who only counts the cows of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/much-though-he-recites-the-sacred-texts-but-acts-not-accordingly-that/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [ “\[Twofold sanctification reached by twofold faith\] \[By faith . . . Heb. 11:1\] Faith is the evidence of things not seen, though now actually… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-murray/twofold-sanctification-reached-by-twofold-faith-by-faith-heb-11-1/) [Andrew Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-murray/) > [The word ‘holiday’ comes from ‘holy day’ and holy means ‘exalted and worthy of complete devotion.’ By that definition, all days are holy. Life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/the-word-holiday-comes-from-holy-day-and-holy-means-exalted-and/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [A holy life is in itself a wonderful power, and will make up for many deficiencies; it is in fact the best sermon a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/a-holy-life-is-in-itself-a-wonderful-power-and-will-make-up-for-many/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [The Bible is the statute-book of God's Kingdom, wherein is comprised the whole body of the heavenly law, the perfect rules of a holy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezekiel-hopkins/the-bible-is-the-statute-book-of-god-s-kingdom-wherein-is-comprised/) [Ezekiel Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezekiel-hopkins/) > [“The word “holiday” comes from “holy day” and holy means “exalted and worthy of complete devotion.” By that definition, all days are holy. Life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/the-word-holiday-comes-from-holy-day-and-holy-means-exalted-and-2/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [A father's holy life is a rich legacy for his sons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/a-father-s-holy-life-is-a-rich-legacy-for-his-sons/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [Christianity is a religion which concerns us as we are here and now, creatures of body and soul. We do not "follow the footsteps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-underhill/christianity-is-a-religion-which-concerns-us-as-we-are-here-and-now/) [Evelyn Underhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-underhill/) [Browse all 73 Holy life quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holy-life/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“A lowly knowledge of thyself is a surer way to God than the deep searching of a man’s learnings. Not that learning is to be blamed, nor the taking account of anything that is good; but a good conscience and a holy life is better than all. 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