--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For a little reward men make a long…" description: "\"“For a little reward men make a long journey; for eternal life many will scarce lift a foot once from the ground. Mean reward is sought after; for a si..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e32/thomas-a-kempis-721_day-and-night_for-a-little-reward-men-make-a-long-jour_2562400.jpg" --- # For a little reward men make a long journey; for eternal… ![“For a little reward men make a long journey; for eternal life many will scarce lift a foot once from the ground. Mean reward is sought after; for a single piece of money sometimes there is shameful striving; for a thing which is vain and for a trifling promise, men shrink not from toiling day and…” quote by Thomas à Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e32/thomas-a-kempis-721_day-and-night_for-a-little-reward-men-make-a-long-jour_2562400.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e32/thomas-a-kempis-721_day-and-night_for-a-little-reward-men-make-a-long-jour_2562400.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e32/thomas-a-kempis-721_day-and-night_for-a-little-reward-men-make-a-long-jour_2562400.jpg) > ““For a little reward men make a long journey; for eternal life many will scarce lift a foot once from the ground. Mean reward is sought after; for a single piece of money sometimes there is shameful striving; for a thing which is vain and for a trifling promise, men shrink not from toiling day and night.”” [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. People chase small, tangible rewards with great effort, yet ignore the pursuit of eternal, spiritual fulfillment. **In simple terms:** Short-term gains drive hard work, while lasting purpose is often neglected. Key Takeaway Prioritize lasting values over fleeting gains. Themes spirituality motivation values Mood contemplative inspirational Type philosophical religious When to use this quote - career advancement - financial goals - personal development - religious practice Key Concepts eternal life materialism human nature Questions to Reflect On - What lasting purpose could you pursue? - How do you balance immediate needs with long-term values? A Different Perspective Short-term rewards can distract from deeper, lasting fulfillment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Day and night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day-and-night/) [Eternal life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eternal-life/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Long journey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-journey/) [Reward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reward/) ## Related quotes > [In your judgment virtue requires no reward, and is to be sought for itself, unaccompanied by external benefits. \[Lat., Judice te mercede caret, per…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/in-your-judgment-virtue-requires-no-reward-and-is-to-be-sought-for/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [One man should not be afraid of improving his posessions, lest they be taken away from him, or another deterred by high taxes from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/one-man-should-not-be-afraid-of-improving-his-posessions-lest-they-be/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [“Facebook’s Sheryl Sandberg agreed. “We reward men every step of the way—for being leaders, for being assertive, for taking risks, for being competitive,” she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-povich/facebook-s-sheryl-sandberg-agreed-we-reward-men-every-step-of-the-way/) [Lynn Povich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-povich/) > [Ask often, be content of little, reward always.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nuno-oliveira/ask-often-be-content-of-little-reward-always/) [Nuno Oliveira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nuno-oliveira/) > [Men can be a great deal of work for very little reward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenda-jackson/men-can-be-a-great-deal-of-work-for-very-little-reward/) [Glenda Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenda-jackson/) > [The problem with capitalism is that it best rewards the worst part of us: the ruthless, competitive, conniving, opportunistic, acquisitive drives, giving little reward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-parenti/the-problem-with-capitalism-is-that-it-best-rewards-the-worst-part-of/) [Michael Parenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-parenti/) > [There is little reward for being a good parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-duffy/there-is-little-reward-for-being-a-good-parent/) John Duffy > [“Silly girl ... because chasing you makes for more of a challenge -- and more of a reward." Alex offered an amused snort. "I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-maclean/silly-girl-because-chasing-you-makes-for-more-of-a-challenge-and-more/) [Sarah MacLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-maclean/) > [Where there is little risk, there is little reward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evel-knievel/where-there-is-little-risk-there-is-little-reward/) [Evel Knievel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evel-knievel/) > [Now it is autumn and the falling fruit and the long journey towards oblivion. The apples falling like great drops of dew to bruise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-h-lawrence/now-it-is-autumn-and-the-falling-fruit-and-the-long-journey-towards/) [D. H. Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-h-lawrence/) > [“There is something that happens to the mind in moments of terror. 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I've seen a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sharma/climbing-is-this-long-term-lifelong-journey-it-s-really-important-to/) [Chris Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sharma/) > [“You’d better keep her tied.” “Why?” A yawn stretched Hunter’s dark face. “Because she’s looking skittish.” “She’s naked.” Sheathing his knife, Hunter flopped on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-anderson/you-d-better-keep-her-tied-why-a-yawn-stretched-hunter-s-dark-face/) [Catherine Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-anderson/) ## 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 Day and night quotes > [“helping me. It’s a full-time job, and I am grateful for your concern for my reader friends. Of course, thanks to my daughter and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-kingsbury/helping-me-it-s-a-full-time-job-and-i-am-grateful-for-your-concern/) [Karen Kingsbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-kingsbury/) > [Whose school-hours are all the days and nights of our existence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/whose-school-hours-are-all-the-days-and-nights-of-our-existence/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [“In the parking lot, she drove and parked in a dark area with no other cars around. She reclined her seat, and listened to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tao-lin/in-the-parking-lot-she-drove-and-parked-in-a-dark-area-with-no-other/) [Tao Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tao-lin/) > [I will work day and night to avoid failure, but if I can't, I'll pick myself up the next day. The most important thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-will-work-day-and-night-to-avoid-failure-but-if-i-can-t-i-ll-pick/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [“The host is rushing 'twixt day and night, And where is there hope or deed as fair? Caoilte tossing his burning hair, And Niamh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-b-yeats/the-host-is-rushing-twixt-day-and-night-and-where-is-there-hope-or/) [W.B. Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-b-yeats/) > [“The glue that holds the natural world together appears to be a harmonious balance of opposites: day and night, light and dark, winter and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-glue-that-holds-the-natural-world-together-appears-to-be-a/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [Because when I have been busy at the United Nations during crises, it has meant working day and night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauline-frederick/because-when-i-have-been-busy-at-the-united-nations-during-crises-it/) Pauline Frederick > [I just want to stay by you day and night. The best feeling I get is when I see your face early morning and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-just-want-to-stay-by-you-day-and-night-the-best-feeling-i-get-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When I was young, I spent my days and nights trying to impress future generations. I spent them. They're gone. All because I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-syjuco/when-i-was-young-i-spent-my-days-and-nights-trying-to-impress-future/) [Miguel Syjuco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-syjuco/) > [A man received message from his neighbor... Sorry sir.., I am using your wife. I am using day and night. I am using when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritesh/a-man-received-message-from-his-neighbor-sorry-sir-i-am-using-your/) [Ritesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritesh/) > [“To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best day and night to make you like everybody else means to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-e-cummings-2/to-be-nobody-but-yourself-in-a-world-which-is-doing-its-best-day-and/) [E.E. Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-e-cummings-2/) > [“He smiled at me, as innocent as an angel. "I will sit her all day and night. I'll camp out on your porch. and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/he-smiled-at-me-as-innocent-as-an-angel-i-will-sit-her-all-day-and/) [Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/) > [“I always found in myself a dread of west and love of east. Where I ever got such an idea I cannot say, unless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-always-found-in-myself-a-dread-of-west-and-love-of-east-where-i/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [ Sweet discourse makes short daies and nights. \[Sweet discourse makes short days and nights.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/sweet-discourse-makes-short-daies-and-nights-sweet-discourse-makes/) [George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/) > [Day and night, meditate forever on the Lord.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guru-gobind-singh/day-and-night-meditate-forever-on-the-lord/) [Guru Gobind Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guru-gobind-singh/) [Browse all 756 Day and night quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day-and-night/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“For a little reward men make a long journey; for eternal life many will scarce lift a foot once from the ground. 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