--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Be Yourself -The man who is neither bent…" description: "\"Be Yourself -The man who is neither bent upon pleasing his fellows nor afraid of offending them will enjoy great peace.\" — Thomas a Kempis" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c99/thomas-a-kempis-721_achievement_be-yourself-the-man-who-is-neither-bent_73905.png" --- # Be Yourself -The man who is neither bent upon pleasing his… ![“Be Yourself -The man who is neither bent upon pleasing his fellows nor afraid of offending them will enjoy great peace.” quote by Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c99/thomas-a-kempis-721_achievement_be-yourself-the-man-who-is-neither-bent_73905.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c99/thomas-a-kempis-721_achievement_be-yourself-the-man-who-is-neither-bent_73905.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c99/thomas-a-kempis-721_achievement_be-yourself-the-man-who-is-neither-bent_73905.png) > “Be Yourself -The man who is neither bent upon pleasing his fellows nor afraid of offending them will enjoy great peace.” [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. True peace comes from inner integrity, not from seeking approval or fearing criticism. **In simple terms:** Inner integrity yields peace. Key Takeaway Authenticity over approval. Themes self‑acceptance inner peace courage independence integrity Mood calm confident reflective Type aphorism philosophical When to use this quote - making personal decisions - facing social judgment - leading a team - navigating cultural expectations Key Concepts self‑esteem social pressure personal freedom Practical Applications - personal development coaching - leadership training Questions to Reflect On - How does seeking approval affect your well‑being? - What steps can you take to act authentically? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Achievement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achievement/) [Being yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-yourself/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) ## Related quotes > [Oh, how great peace and quietness would he possess who should cut off all vain anxiety and place all his confidence in God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/oh-how-great-peace-and-quietness-would-he-possess-who-should-cut-off/) [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [I want to stay in the moment and enjoy the great things that are happening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-heigl/i-want-to-stay-in-the-moment-and-enjoy-the-great-things-that-are/) [Katherine Heigl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-heigl/) > [“Don’t be sorry, I won’t let it hurt me. I’ll forget all the bad and remember only the good, for I did enjoy a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/don-t-be-sorry-i-won-t-let-it-hurt-me-i-ll-forget-all-the-bad-and/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [“Have a good day on purpose, then elevate your efforts towards other and enjoy a great day in purpose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-jenkins/have-a-good-day-on-purpose-then-elevate-your-efforts-towards-other/) Toni Jenkins > [All my mates are at university, and it's a life I haven't had a chance to enjoy, so it's great to turn up and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-tomlinson/all-my-mates-are-at-university-and-it-s-a-life-i-haven-t-had-a-chance/) [Louis Tomlinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-tomlinson/) > [I enjoy what I do and it's a great way to live your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-headey/i-enjoy-what-i-do-and-it-s-a-great-way-to-live-your-life/) [Lena Headey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-headey/) > [“Set aside one hour each day to do something that you enjoy a great deal. Don't skip this hour. Don't fill it in with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/set-aside-one-hour-each-day-to-do-something-that-you-enjoy-a-great/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [We're all going to have our downs, but you enjoy it even more when you do something great, or you have that success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-gurley/we-re-all-going-to-have-our-downs-but-you-enjoy-it-even-more-when-you/) [Todd Gurley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-gurley/) > [Try to enjoy the great festival of life with other men!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/try-to-enjoy-the-great-festival-of-life-with-other-men/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [“It was a great peace, as if the earth had been one grave, and for a time I stood there thinking mostly of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-conrad/it-was-a-great-peace-as-if-the-earth-had-been-one-grave-and-for-a/) [Joseph Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-conrad/) > [“When the soul reflects on the fact that it has given itself to the Immaculate, and that whatever happens to it occurs by her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-maximilian-kolbe/when-the-soul-reflects-on-the-fact-that-it-has-given-itself-to-the/) [St. Maximilian Kolbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-maximilian-kolbe/) > [I want to re-echo my hope that we may all work together for a great peace as distinguished from a mean peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/i-want-to-re-echo-my-hope-that-we-may-all-work-together-for-a-great/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [Great peace is found in little busy-ness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-chaucer/great-peace-is-found-in-little-busy-ness/) [Geoffrey Chaucer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-chaucer/) > [“Great peace is found in little busy-ness. Chaucer”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-shaw-judson/great-peace-is-found-in-little-busy-ness-chaucer/) Sylvia Shaw Judson > [He who finds a thought that lets us a little deeper into the eternal mystery of nature has been granted great peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/he-who-finds-a-thought-that-lets-us-a-little-deeper-into-the-eternal/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) ## 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/) > [“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/) > [“Your assignment is to love everyone, accepting all that happens to you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/your-assignment-is-to-love-everyone-accepting-all-that-happens-to-you/) [Thomas à 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 Achievement quotes > [You, of Canada, are building a magnificent record of achievement. My country rejoices in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/you-of-canada-are-building-a-magnificent-record-of-achievement-my/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [“If attempting to make the world a civilized one, makes you a bad woman in the eyes of the dumb patriarchal society, then, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/if-attempting-to-make-the-world-a-civilized-one-makes-you-a-bad-woman/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [One achieves true human dignity only when one serves. Only he is great who subjects himself to taking part in the achievement of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-antonio-primo-de-rivera/one-achieves-true-human-dignity-only-when-one-serves-only-he-is-great/) Jose Antonio Primo de Rivera > [Needs cause motivation. Deep-rooted desires for esteem, affection, belonging, achievement, self-actualization, power, and control motivate us to push for what we want and need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorii-myers/needs-cause-motivation-deep-rooted-desires-for-esteem-affection/) [Lorii Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorii-myers/) > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [It's tragic what America has become because there is a great segment of society that now resents luxury and success and achievement by others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-leach/it-s-tragic-what-america-has-become-because-there-is-a-great-segment/) [Robin Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-leach/) > [To preserve an unclouded capacity for the enjoyment of life is an unusual moral and psychological achievement. Contrary to popular belief, it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/to-preserve-an-unclouded-capacity-for-the-enjoyment-of-life-is-an/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [Joel Lane documents a life we don’t quite live, in a city we can’t quite find: half glimpsed and half imagined, we know it’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaz-brenchley/joel-lane-documents-a-life-we-don-t-quite-live-in-a-city-we-can-t/) Chaz Brenchley > [The main substantive achievement of neoliberalism has been to redistribute rather than to generate wealth and income.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-harvey/the-main-substantive-achievement-of-neoliberalism-has-been-to/) [David Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-harvey/) > [Every profession has an ideology and a drive for power that goes far beyond its achievements and it is the task of democracy to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feyerabend/every-profession-has-an-ideology-and-a-drive-for-power-that-goes-far/) [Paul Feyerabend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feyerabend/) > [We have Internet now and people are not stupid. But it seems that some people are trying to push the same agenda of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bassem-youssef/we-have-internet-now-and-people-are-not-stupid-but-it-seems-that-some/) [Bassem Youssef](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bassem-youssef/) > [“If you find a way where there seems to be no way, that’s what we call miracle, not personal achievement.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nkwachukwu-ogbuagu/if-you-find-a-way-where-there-seems-to-be-no-way-that-s-what-we-call/) [Nkwachukwu Ogbuagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nkwachukwu-ogbuagu/) > [The Baseball Hall of Fame is something every player dreams about, but being a member of God's Hall of Fame is the greatest achievement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-carter/the-baseball-hall-of-fame-is-something-every-player-dreams-about-but/) [Gary Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-carter/) > [Cease speaking of enemies when an achievement can kindle a great light. Solitude will transmit the message better than the murmurs of crowds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-roerich/cease-speaking-of-enemies-when-an-achievement-can-kindle-a-great/) Nicholas Roerich > [Every scene is a challenge. There are technical challenges, but often it's the simplest challenge where you feel a sense of achievement when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-deakins/every-scene-is-a-challenge-there-are-technical-challenges-but-often/) [Roger Deakins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-deakins/) [Browse all 3,867 Achievement quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achievement/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Be Yourself -The man who is neither bent upon pleasing his fellows nor afraid of offending them will enjoy great peace.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas a Kempis" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/be-yourself-the-man-who-is-neither-bent-upon-pleasing-his-fellows-nor/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Achievement" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/be-yourself-the-man-who-is-neither-bent-upon-pleasing-his-fellows-nor/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c99/thomas-a-kempis-721_achievement_be-yourself-the-man-who-is-neither-bent_73905.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c99/thomas-a-kempis-721_achievement_be-yourself-the-man-who-is-neither-bent_73905.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c99/thomas-a-kempis-721_achievement_be-yourself-the-man-who-is-neither-bent_73905.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Be Yourself -The man who is neither bent upon pleasing his fellows nor afraid of offending them will enjoy…” — 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": "Be Yourself -The man who is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/be-yourself-the-man-who-is-neither-bent-upon-pleasing-his-fellows-nor/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/be-yourself-the-man-who-is-neither-bent-upon-pleasing-his-fellows-nor/#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 } } ] } ```