--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Pardon me also, and deal mercifully with…" description: "\"“Pardon me also, and deal mercifully with me, as often as I think of anything besides You in prayer. For I confess truly that I am accustomed to be ver..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/268/thomas-a-kempis-721_desire_pardon-me-also-and-deal-mercifully-with_1216625.png" --- # Pardon me also, and deal mercifully with me, as often as I… ![“Pardon me also, and deal mercifully with me, as often as I think of anything besides You in prayer. For I confess truly that I am accustomed to be very much distracted. Very often I am not where bodily I stand or sit; rather, I am where my thoughts carry me. Where my thoughts are, there am I; and…” quote by Thomas à Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/268/thomas-a-kempis-721_desire_pardon-me-also-and-deal-mercifully-with_1216625.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/268/thomas-a-kempis-721_desire_pardon-me-also-and-deal-mercifully-with_1216625.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/268/thomas-a-kempis-721_desire_pardon-me-also-and-deal-mercifully-with_1216625.png) > ““Pardon me also, and deal mercifully with me, as often as I think of anything besides You in prayer. For I confess truly that I am accustomed to be very much distracted. Very often I am not where bodily I stand or sit; rather, I am where my thoughts carry me. Where my thoughts are, there am I; and frequently my thoughts are where my love is. That which naturally delights, or is by habit pleasing, comes to me quickly. Hence You Who are Truth itself, have plainly said: 'For where your treasure is, there is your heart also.' If I love heaven, I think willingly of heavenly things. If I love the world, I rejoice at the happiness of the world and grieve at its troubles. If I love the flesh, I often imagine things that are carnal. If I love the spirit, I delight in thinking of spiritual matters. For whatever I love, I am willing to speak and hear about.”” [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. One’s inner focus reflects the heart’s treasure; aligning thoughts with love for the divine, world, or self shapes character and actions. **In simple terms:** Where thoughts go, the heart follows. Key Takeaway Align thoughts with what you truly love. Themes spirituality self‑reflection values Mood contemplative serene Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal prayer - mindful meditation - ethical decision‑making - creative work Key Concepts Inner focus love as guiding principle Questions to Reflect On - What does your heart truly treasure? - How do your daily thoughts reveal your priorities? A Different Perspective Distractions can pull focus away from higher goals. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Distraction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distraction/) [Forgiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiveness/) [Imagination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagination/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Passion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passion/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sin/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [You are only as strong as the thoughts that frequently dwell in your mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmond-mbiaka/you-are-only-as-strong-as-the-thoughts-that-frequently-dwell-in-your/) Edmond Mbiaka > [Thoughts that most frequently occupy the mind determine a man's course of action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/thoughts-that-most-frequently-occupy-the-mind-determine-a-man-s/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [You are what you think. Think it today. Become it tomorrow. Nothing can help you or hurt you as much as the thoughts you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/you-are-what-you-think-think-it-today-become-it-tomorrow-nothing-can/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [Held in your arms But too far from my heart. These thoughts will carry me through the darkest nights. While Your eyes rest in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/as-i-lay-dying/held-in-your-arms-but-too-far-from-my-heart-these-thoughts-will-carry/) As I Lay Dying > [Tis not my talent to conceal my thoughts, Or carry smiles and sunshine in my face, When discontent sits heavy at my heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/tis-not-my-talent-to-conceal-my-thoughts-or-carry-smiles-and-sunshine/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [“When your footsteps and thoughts carry you down the same path your heart and soul are directing you, you will know without a doubt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-friedenfeld/when-your-footsteps-and-thoughts-carry-you-down-the-same-path-your/) [Molly Friedenfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-friedenfeld/) > [I'm not just interested in the thoughts I have, but also in others' thoughts, and why not carry those forward? That's why American fiction…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-tillman/i-m-not-just-interested-in-the-thoughts-i-have-but-also-in-others/) [Lynne Tillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-tillman/) > [“Your thoughts carry you wherever you want to go. Weak thoughts don’t have the energy to carry you far!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/your-thoughts-carry-you-wherever-you-want-to-go-weak-thoughts-don-t/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [Sincerity is the way to heaven; to think how to be sincere is the way of man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mencius/sincerity-is-the-way-to-heaven-to-think-how-to-be-sincere-is-the-way/) [Mencius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mencius/) > [I wonder what Heaven must think of the people down here on this small black speck in the universe that is earth, or of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isoroku-yamamoto/i-wonder-what-heaven-must-think-of-the-people-down-here-on-this-small/) [Isoroku Yamamoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isoroku-yamamoto/) > [And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare As any she belied with false compare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/and-yet-by-heaven-i-think-my-love-as-rare-as-any-she-belied-with/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [My days I devote to reading and experiments in chemistry, and I spend many of the clear nights in the study of astronomy. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-days-i-devote-to-reading-and-experiments-in-chemistry-and-i-spend/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Nothing is more often misdiagnosed than our homesickness for Heaven. We think that what we want is sex, drugs, alcohol, a new job, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-alcorn/nothing-is-more-often-misdiagnosed-than-our-homesickness-for-heaven/) [Randy Alcorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-alcorn/) > [“Question for your life: If Ted Kennedy made it to heaven, do you think he’s pleased with the fact that Jesus can turn water…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/question-for-your-life-if-ted-kennedy-made-it-to-heaven-do-you-think/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [One reason I like to talk about Heaven, think about Heaven and read about Heaven is because, after all, that's where we're going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-berg/one-reason-i-like-to-talk-about-heaven-think-about-heaven-and-read/) [David Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-berg/) ## 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 Desire quotes > [I put myself in the student's place and remember the frustrations, doubts, determination, and desires I felt when I was going through the initial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-martinez/i-put-myself-in-the-student-s-place-and-remember-the-frustrations/) Ted Martinez > [Passion is what you need to be good, an unforgiving passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-easton/passion-is-what-you-need-to-be-good-an-unforgiving-passion/) [David Easton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-easton/) > [I want the municipality to be a helping hand to the man with a desire of sympathy, to help the fallen when it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burns/i-want-the-municipality-to-be-a-helping-hand-to-the-man-with-a-desire/) [John Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burns/) > [Ye youths and virgins, when your generous blood Has drunk the warmth of fifteen summers, now The loves invite; now to new rapture wakes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-armstrong/ye-youths-and-virgins-when-your-generous-blood-has-drunk-the-warmth/) [John Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-armstrong/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [“THE ESSENCE OF YOUR DESIRE IS A FEELING”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-laporte/the-essence-of-your-desire-is-a-feeling/) [Danielle LaPorte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-laporte/) > [On the brink of being satiated, desire still appears infinite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rostand/on-the-brink-of-being-satiated-desire-still-appears-infinite/) [Jean Rostand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rostand/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [He caught her, she fell, he caught her in his arms, he held her tightly unconscious of what he was doing. He held her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/he-caught-her-she-fell-he-caught-her-in-his-arms-he-held-her-tightly/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [ Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit. My three \[great teachers\] did not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/teaching-might-even-be-the-greatest-of-the-arts-since-the-medium-is/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [“The deepest urge in human nature is the desire to be important.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/the-deepest-urge-in-human-nature-is-the-desire-to-be-important/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [In discovering books, you became free to explore the full range of human motives, desires, secrets, and lies. All my life, people have scolded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/in-discovering-books-you-became-free-to-explore-the-full-range-of/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) > [I have never been in, nor have I had any strong particular desire to be in, what is termed a costume drama, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/i-have-never-been-in-nor-have-i-had-any-strong-particular-desire-to/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) > [Now I am in the place I call this wide wide Heaven because it includes all my simplest desires but also the most humble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-sebold/now-i-am-in-the-place-i-call-this-wide-wide-heaven-because-it/) [Alice Sebold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-sebold/) > [“from THE DEVIL YOU KNOW : She wanted him too. He could see it in the rapid rise of her breasts. He could smell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emery-lee/from-the-devil-you-know-she-wanted-him-too-he-could-see-it-in-the/) [Emery Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emery-lee/) [Browse all 15,155 Desire quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Pardon me also, and deal mercifully with me, as often as I think of anything besides You in prayer. For I confess truly that I am accustomed to be very much distracted. Very often I am not where bodily I stand or sit; rather, I am where my thoughts carry me. Where my thoughts are, there am I; and frequently my thoughts are where my love is. That which naturally delights, or is by habit pleasing, comes to me quickly. Hence You Who are Truth itself, have plainly said: 'For where your treasure is, there is your heart also.' If I love heaven, I think willingly of heavenly things. If I love the world, I rejoice at the happiness of the world and grieve at its troubles. If I love the flesh, I often imagine things that are carnal. If I love the spirit, I delight in thinking of spiritual matters. For whatever I love, I am willing to speak and hear about.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas à Kempis" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/pardon-me-also-and-deal-mercifully-with-me-as-often-as-i-think-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Desire" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/pardon-me-also-and-deal-mercifully-with-me-as-often-as-i-think-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/268/thomas-a-kempis-721_desire_pardon-me-also-and-deal-mercifully-with_1216625.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/268/thomas-a-kempis-721_desire_pardon-me-also-and-deal-mercifully-with_1216625.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/268/thomas-a-kempis-721_desire_pardon-me-also-and-deal-mercifully-with_1216625.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Pardon me also, and deal mercifully with me, as often as I think of anything besides You in prayer. For I…” — Thomas à 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 à Kempis", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Pardon me also, and deal mercifully...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/pardon-me-also-and-deal-mercifully-with-me-as-often-as-i-think-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/pardon-me-also-and-deal-mercifully-with-me-as-often-as-i-think-of/#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 } } ] } ```