--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A pure, sincere, and stable spirit is not…" description: "\"A pure, sincere, and stable spirit is not distracted though it be employed in many works; for that it works all to the honor of God, and inwardly being..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43b/thomas-a-kempis-721_distracted_a-pure-sincere-and-stable-spirit-is-not_2864181.png" --- # A pure, sincere, and stable spirit is not distracted… ![“A pure, sincere, and stable spirit is not distracted though it be employed in many works; for that it works all to the honor of God, and inwardly being still and quiet, seeks not itself in any thing it doth.” quote by Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43b/thomas-a-kempis-721_distracted_a-pure-sincere-and-stable-spirit-is-not_2864181.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43b/thomas-a-kempis-721_distracted_a-pure-sincere-and-stable-spirit-is-not_2864181.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43b/thomas-a-kempis-721_distracted_a-pure-sincere-and-stable-spirit-is-not_2864181.png) > “A pure, sincere, and stable spirit is not distracted though it be employed in many works; for that it works all to the honor of God, and inwardly being still and quiet, seeks not itself in any thing it doth.” [Thomas a 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. A stable spirit remains focused despite many tasks, honoring God by staying quiet and not seeking self‑interest. **In simple terms:** Stay humble and focused. Key Takeaway Cultivate inner stillness amid activity. Themes spirituality focus humility Mood reflective calm Type religious inspirational When to use this quote - workplace concentration - prayer - creative projects Key Concepts Christian mysticism inner peace service Questions to Reflect On - What inner stillness you practice? - How can you serve without seeking praise? A Different Perspective Distractions can erode stillness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Distracted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distracted/) [Employed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/employed/) [God Inwardly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-inwardly-3313332/) [Honor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honor/) [Honor God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honor-god/) [Inwardly Quiet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inwardly-quiet-3882689/) [Pure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pure/) [Quiet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quiet/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Sincere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sincere/) [Spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirit/) [Stable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stable/) [Stable Spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stable-spirit-3882688/) [Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stills/) [Works Honor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/works-honor-3882690/) ## Related quotes > [Whatever was in the human nature of Christ was moved at the bidding of the divine will; yet it does not follow that in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-aquinas/whatever-was-in-the-human-nature-of-christ-was-moved-at-the-bidding/) [Thomas Aquinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-aquinas/) > [As to those in whom the will of God is not inwardly accomplished,-because there is no inward life in them, for they are altogether…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-gottlieb-fichte/as-to-those-in-whom-the-will-of-god-is-not-inwardly-accomplished/) [Johann Gottlieb Fichte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-gottlieb-fichte/) > [A man is hindered and distracted in proportion as he draws outward things to himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/a-man-is-hindered-and-distracted-in-proportion-as-he-draws-outward/) [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [“Humiliation is the only ladder to honor in God's kingdom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-murray/humiliation-is-the-only-ladder-to-honor-in-god-s-kingdom/) [Andrew Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-murray/) > [“He never considered himself anything special. He was just a man who tried to honor God and help people in need. In the end,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-benge/he-never-considered-himself-anything-special-he-was-just-a-man-who/) [Janet Benge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-benge/) > [“You cannot honor God without honoring people first”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/you-cannot-honor-god-without-honoring-people-first/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [Bold prayers honor God, and God honors bold prayers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jentezen-franklin/bold-prayers-honor-god-and-god-honors-bold-prayers/) [Jentezen Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jentezen-franklin/) > [“In speaking thus I have one fear; it is that I may convince the mind before God can win the heart. For this God-above-all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-w-tozer/in-speaking-thus-i-have-one-fear-it-is-that-i-may-convince-the-mind/) [A.W. Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-w-tozer/) > [There is nothing so small but that we may honor God by asking His guidance of it, or insult Him by taking it into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/there-is-nothing-so-small-but-that-we-may-honor-god-by-asking-his/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [“Why does the Bible keep nagging us to give thanks? It’s because we quickly forget all that God has done for us; we take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-noland/why-does-the-bible-keep-nagging-us-to-give-thanks-it-s-because-we/) [Rory Noland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-noland/) > [ “Do we honor them for the extras? No, a thousand times no. We \[honor them\] because God gave us the charge to honor all.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bevere/do-we-honor-them-for-the-extras-no-a-thousand-times-no-we-honor-them/) [John bevere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bevere/) > [I often say 'I didn't write the script, but I'm learning to live it out with the best of my ability for the honor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-white/i-often-say-i-didn-t-write-the-script-but-i-m-learning-to-live-it-out/) [Paula White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-white/) > [We honor God by asking for great things when they are a part of His promise. We dishonor Him and cheat ourselves when we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/we-honor-god-by-asking-for-great-things-when-they-are-a-part-of-his/) [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) > [It is by God's grace and provision that Hobby Lobby has endured. Therefore, we seek to honor God by operating the company in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-green/it-is-by-god-s-grace-and-provision-that-hobby-lobby-has-endured/) [David Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-green/) > [“Defiance, Catherine, is a gift of God, who is superior to nature. When nature comes to get you, honor God by treating it, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-helprin/defiance-catherine-is-a-gift-of-god-who-is-superior-to-nature-when/) [Mark Helprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-helprin/) ## More by Thomas a 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 a Kempis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) ## More Distracted quotes > [Life is Too Short to be Distracted by the Opinions of Others.. Live it the way you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/life-is-too-short-to-be-distracted-by-the-opinions-of-others-live-it/) [Senoraroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/senoraroy/) > [One reason why my memory decays is that I have three cats, all so loving and insistent that they play cat's-cradle with every train…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-townsend-warner/one-reason-why-my-memory-decays-is-that-i-have-three-cats-all-so/) [Sylvia Townsend Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-townsend-warner/) > [“You’ve so distracted me, your absence fans my love. Don’t ask how. Then you come near. “Do not…” I say, and “Do not…,” you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/you-ve-so-distracted-me-your-absence-fans-my-love-don-t-ask-how-then/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [We are going to die, as is everyone we adore - I hate this! But the question is, how do we live as women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/we-are-going-to-die-as-is-everyone-we-adore-i-hate-this-but-the/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [“A distracted mind cannot build a disciplined life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glody-kikonga/a-distracted-mind-cannot-build-a-disciplined-life/) [Glody Kikonga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glody-kikonga/) > [He was distracted by a giggle, and turned to see a rare sight: a girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/he-was-distracted-by-a-giggle-and-turned-to-see-a-rare-sight-a-girl/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [One should not be too distracted by definitions. Ideas transcend definitions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/one-should-not-be-too-distracted-by-definitions-ideas-transcend/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [I would make a genuinely terrible guide. I can't remember things. I would get half way through telling a story or explaining something and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bryson/i-would-make-a-genuinely-terrible-guide-i-can-t-remember-things-i/) [Bill Bryson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bryson/) > [We are distracted from our greatness because are greatness is what scares us. Right where you are…God is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/we-are-distracted-from-our-greatness-because-are-greatness-is-what/) [Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/) > [The more you focus on yourself, the more distracted you will be from the proper path. The more you know Him and commune with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-macarthur/the-more-you-focus-on-yourself-the-more-distracted-you-will-be-from/) [John Macarthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-macarthur/) > [One of the things we've seen here is how easy it is for Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton to get distracted from dealing with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/one-of-the-things-we-ve-seen-here-is-how-easy-it-is-for-barack-obama/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [You cannot control your own population by force, but it can be distracted by consumption.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/you-cannot-control-your-own-population-by-force-but-it-can-be/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [“She thinks I am easily distracted when I drive. There were a few fender benders, but she doesn’t actually realize I was playing bumper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-ann-lunsford/she-thinks-i-am-easily-distracted-when-i-drive-there-were-a-few/) [Leigh Ann Lunsford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-ann-lunsford/) > [I dipped into his brain. He wasn't happy that I wasn't wearing a bra, because my boobs distracted him. He was thinking I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlaine-harris/i-dipped-into-his-brain-he-wasn-t-happy-that-i-wasn-t-wearing-a-bra/) [Charlaine Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlaine-harris/) > [It seemed intended by the blessed providence of God that I should be blind all my life, and I thank him for the dispensation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fanny-crosby/it-seemed-intended-by-the-blessed-providence-of-god-that-i-should-be/) [Fanny Crosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fanny-crosby/) [Browse all 593 Distracted quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distracted/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A pure, sincere, and stable spirit is not distracted though it be employed in many works; for that it works all to the honor of God, and inwardly being still and quiet, seeks not itself in any thing it doth.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas a Kempis" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/a-pure-sincere-and-stable-spirit-is-not-distracted-though-it-be/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Distracted" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/a-pure-sincere-and-stable-spirit-is-not-distracted-though-it-be/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43b/thomas-a-kempis-721_distracted_a-pure-sincere-and-stable-spirit-is-not_2864181.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43b/thomas-a-kempis-721_distracted_a-pure-sincere-and-stable-spirit-is-not_2864181.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43b/thomas-a-kempis-721_distracted_a-pure-sincere-and-stable-spirit-is-not_2864181.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A pure, sincere, and stable spirit is not distracted though it be employed in many works; for that it works…” — Thomas a Kempis", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Thomas a Kempis", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A pure, sincere, and stable spirit...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/a-pure-sincere-and-stable-spirit-is-not-distracted-though-it-be/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/a-pure-sincere-and-stable-spirit-is-not-distracted-though-it-be/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```