--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: All men are frail; but thou shouldst…" description: "\"All men are frail; but thou shouldst reckon none so frail as thyself.\" — Thomas a Kempis" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b4/thomas-a-kempis-721_frail_all-men-are-frail-but-thou-shouldst-reck_1178850.png" --- # All men are frail; but thou shouldst reckon none so frail… ![“All men are frail; but thou shouldst reckon none so frail as thyself.” quote by Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b4/thomas-a-kempis-721_frail_all-men-are-frail-but-thou-shouldst-reck_1178850.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b4/thomas-a-kempis-721_frail_all-men-are-frail-but-thou-shouldst-reck_1178850.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b4/thomas-a-kempis-721_frail_all-men-are-frail-but-thou-shouldst-reck_1178850.png) > “All men are frail; but thou shouldst reckon none so frail as thyself.” [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. We often judge others as weaker, yet we are the most vulnerable of all. **In simple terms:** We are our own greatest weakness. Key Takeaway Practice self‑compassion and realistic self‑assessment. Themes humility self‑awareness vulnerability Mood reflective humble Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - personal relationships - leadership decisions - mental health coping - conflict resolution Key Concepts Christian ethics psychology human frailty Questions to Reflect On - How can you recognize your own frailty without self‑judgment? - What steps help you treat yourself as kindly as you treat others? A Different Perspective Self‑criticism can be paralyzing if not balanced with growth focus. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Frailty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frailty/) [Greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatness/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) ## Related quotes > [“Personally, I do not want to make you a man. Men are so very frail. Men break. Men die. No, I’ve always wished to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierce-brown/personally-i-do-not-want-to-make-you-a-man-men-are-so-very-frail-men/) [Pierce Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierce-brown/) > [The memories of men are too frail a thread to hang history from.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-still/the-memories-of-men-are-too-frail-a-thread-to-hang-history-from/) John Still > [“1. To account nothing of one’s self, and to think always kindly and highly of others, this is great and perfect wisdom. Even shouldest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/1-to-account-nothing-of-one-s-self-and-to-think-always-kindly-and/) [Thomas à Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [He who stands aloof runs the risk of believing himself better than others and misusing his critique of society as an ideology for his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/he-who-stands-aloof-runs-the-risk-of-believing-himself-better-than-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Time erodes people, and when you are old enough you weigh nothing. It's comforting to know that I will never be as frail.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maija-haavisto/time-erodes-people-and-when-you-are-old-enough-you-weigh-nothing-it-s/) [Maija Haavisto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maija-haavisto/) > [“He sank back into his black-and-white world, his immobile world of inanimate drawings that had been granted the secret of motion, his death-world with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-millhauser/he-sank-back-into-his-black-and-white-world-his-immobile-world-of/) [Steven Millhauser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-millhauser/) > [When with care we have raised an imaginary treasure of happiness, we find at last that the materials of the structure are frail and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-rogers/when-with-care-we-have-raised-an-imaginary-treasure-of-happiness-we/) [Samuel Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-rogers/) > [“They are so frail humans. So easily crumpled and broken, like flower petals under foot.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-hudock/they-are-so-frail-humans-so-easily-crumpled-and-broken-like-flower/) Jennifer Hudock > [“...the strands that connect us are frail, so don't hang great weights on slender wires...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-geddes/the-strands-that-connect-us-are-frail-so-don-t-hang-great-weights-on/) [John Geddes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-geddes/) > [Occasions of adversity best discover how great virtue or strength each one hath. 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The forces of nature discriminate for no man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/fishing-is-a-constant-reminder-of-the-democracy-of-life-of-humility/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) ## 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! 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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 Frail quotes > [Public infrastructure around the world is facing unprecedented stress, with hurricanes, cyclones, floods and forest fires all increasing in frequency and intensity. It's easy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-klein/public-infrastructure-around-the-world-is-facing-unprecedented-stress/) [Naomi Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-klein/) > [I'd like to play Ian Paisley, actually. I'd need building up, though he's very frail now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liam-neeson/i-d-like-to-play-ian-paisley-actually-i-d-need-building-up-though-he/) [Liam Neeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liam-neeson/) > [I’m cold,' Snowden said softly, 'I’m cold.' 'You’re going to be all right, kid,' Yossarian reassured him with a grin. 'You’re going to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/i-m-cold-snowden-said-softly-i-m-cold-you-re-going-to-be-all-right/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [I am frail like everyone else, and I take that into account when I talk about things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-mencia/i-am-frail-like-everyone-else-and-i-take-that-into-account-when-i/) [Carlos Mencia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-mencia/) > [At five in the afternoon. It was exactly five in the afternoon. A boy brought the white sheet at five in the afternoon. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/at-five-in-the-afternoon-it-was-exactly-five-in-the-afternoon-a-boy/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The biggest myth about aging is that we can't do anything about it. That it's a road to being decrepit, frail, and sick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-somers/the-biggest-myth-about-aging-is-that-we-can-t-do-anything-about-it/) [Suzanne Somers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-somers/) > [The air is like a butterfly With frail blue wings. The happy earth looks at the sky And sings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-kilmer/the-air-is-like-a-butterfly-with-frail-blue-wings-the-happy-earth/) [Joyce Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-kilmer/) > [The ultimate act of cowardice is the fat-headed wrestling guy sitting behind the frail kid in math class, clipping him on the ear, saying:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/the-ultimate-act-of-cowardice-is-the-fat-headed-wrestling-guy-sitting/) [Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/) > [Let us face reality. The framers (of the Constitution) have simply been too shrewd for us. They have outwitted us. They designed separate institutions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-macgregor-burns/let-us-face-reality-the-framers-of-the-constitution-have-simply-been/) [James MacGregor Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-macgregor-burns/) > [God grant that by my persevering labours I may bring a little stone to the frail and ill-assured edifice of our knowledge of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-pasteur/god-grant-that-by-my-persevering-labours-i-may-bring-a-little-stone/) [Louis Pasteur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-pasteur/) > [I got hit in the face with a gun. I'm not very fragile at all. It makes me think maybe things would be easier…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patty-hearst/i-got-hit-in-the-face-with-a-gun-i-m-not-very-fragile-at-all-it-makes/) [Patty Hearst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patty-hearst/) > [Wolves don’t socialize with humans. You guys tend to freak out when you learn what we are. Not to mention, your females are rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/wolves-don-t-socialize-with-humans-you-guys-tend-to-freak-out-when/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [The frail, vulnerable sounds of which we are capable seem to be essential to a later ability to roar like a lion without scaring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-whyte/the-frail-vulnerable-sounds-of-which-we-are-capable-seem-to-be/) [David Whyte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-whyte/) > [“She considered that the future was a frail enough thing at best, and if people looked at it hard they changed it. 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Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-c-bryant/) Browse all 257 Frail quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "All men are frail; but thou shouldst reckon none so frail as thyself.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas a Kempis" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/all-men-are-frail-but-thou-shouldst-reckon-none-so-frail-as-thyself/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Frail" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/all-men-are-frail-but-thou-shouldst-reckon-none-so-frail-as-thyself/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b4/thomas-a-kempis-721_frail_all-men-are-frail-but-thou-shouldst-reck_1178850.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b4/thomas-a-kempis-721_frail_all-men-are-frail-but-thou-shouldst-reck_1178850.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b4/thomas-a-kempis-721_frail_all-men-are-frail-but-thou-shouldst-reck_1178850.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“All men are frail; but thou shouldst reckon none so frail as thyself.” — 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": "All men are frail; but thou...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/all-men-are-frail-but-thou-shouldst-reckon-none-so-frail-as-thyself/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/all-men-are-frail-but-thou-shouldst-reckon-none-so-frail-as-thyself/#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 } } ] } ```