--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Remember, your prerogative is to govern…" description: "\"Remember, your prerogative is to govern, and not to serve the things of this world.\" — Thomas a Kempis" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5e/thomas-a-kempis-721_govern_remember-your-prerogative-is-to-govern-a_2645575.png" --- # Remember, your prerogative is to govern, and not to serve… ![“Remember, your prerogative is to govern, and not to serve the things of this world.” quote by Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5e/thomas-a-kempis-721_govern_remember-your-prerogative-is-to-govern-a_2645575.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5e/thomas-a-kempis-721_govern_remember-your-prerogative-is-to-govern-a_2645575.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5e/thomas-a-kempis-721_govern_remember-your-prerogative-is-to-govern-a_2645575.png) > “Remember, your prerogative is to govern, and not to serve the things of this world.” [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. One should lead by governing wisely, not by serving worldly desires, focusing on higher principles. **In simple terms:** Lead with purpose, not material pursuits. Key Takeaway Prioritize higher values over worldly temptations. Themes leadership ethics spirituality self‑control Mood serious reflective Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - decision making - career planning - spiritual practice - public service Key Concepts governance moral philosophy personal discipline inner authority Questions to Reflect On - What worldly desire distracts you from purpose? - How can you align actions with higher principles? A Different Perspective Worldly temptations can undermine governance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Govern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/govern/) [Govern Serve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/govern-serve-1674161/) [Memories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memories/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Prerogative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prerogative/) [Prerogative Govern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prerogative-govern-2306211/) [Remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remember/) [Remember Prerogative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remember-prerogative-2306212/) [This world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/this-world/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [To govern was to serve, not to rule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/to-govern-was-to-serve-not-to-rule/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [It is an old prerogative of kings to govern everything but their passions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/it-is-an-old-prerogative-of-kings-to-govern-everything-but-their/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [Beauty is the true prerogative of women, and so peculiarly their own, that our sex, though naturally requiring another sort of feature, is never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/beauty-is-the-true-prerogative-of-women-and-so-peculiarly-their-own/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [It is not the constitutional prerogative of the Government to determine needs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mamet/it-is-not-the-constitutional-prerogative-of-the-government-to/) [David Mamet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mamet/) > [Elizabeth ... had the prerogative of the rich that she could be generous with large sums and niggardly over small ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-townsend-warner/elizabeth-had-the-prerogative-of-the-rich-that-she-could-be-generous/) [Sylvia Townsend Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-townsend-warner/) > [The United States has an absolute, uncompromising commitment to Israel's security and an absolute conviction that Israel alone must decide the steps necessary to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/the-united-states-has-an-absolute-uncompromising-commitment-to-israel/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [Freedom which in no other land will thrive, Freedom an English subject's sole prerogative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/freedom-which-in-no-other-land-will-thrive-freedom-an-english-subject/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [When I was appointed deputy president, I accepted it, and it is the president's prerogative to appoint or remove anyone to the Executive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyril-ramaphosa/when-i-was-appointed-deputy-president-i-accepted-it-and-it-is-the/) [Cyril Ramaphosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyril-ramaphosa/) > [There is neither rank nor station nor prerogative in the republic of the grave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-james-ingalls/there-is-neither-rank-nor-station-nor-prerogative-in-the-republic-of/) [John James Ingalls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-james-ingalls/) > [Some husbands regard it as their prerogative to compel their wives to fit their standards of what they think to be the ideal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/some-husbands-regard-it-as-their-prerogative-to-compel-their-wives-to/) [Gordon B. 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Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/) > [Reason to rule, mercy to forgive: The first is law, the last prerogative. Life is an adventure in forgiveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/reason-to-rule-mercy-to-forgive-the-first-is-law-the-last-prerogative/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [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/) ## 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 Govern quotes > [The only legitimate right to govern is an express grant of power from the governed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-henry-harrison/the-only-legitimate-right-to-govern-is-an-express-grant-of-power-from/) [William Henry Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-henry-harrison/) > [All power corrupts but some must govern.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/all-power-corrupts-but-some-must-govern/) [John le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) > [You should govern not by partisanship, but by leadership.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-faulconer/you-should-govern-not-by-partisanship-but-by-leadership/) [Kevin Faulconer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-faulconer/) > [“An anarchist government somehow creates an impression in the hearts of citizens that no one cares.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/an-anarchist-government-somehow-creates-an-impression-in-the-hearts/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [They that govern the most make the least noise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-selden/they-that-govern-the-most-make-the-least-noise/) [John Selden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-selden/) > [It is the stars, The stars above us, govern our conditions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/it-is-the-stars-the-stars-above-us-govern-our-conditions/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible. Do not ever let anyone claim to be a true American…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/it-is-impossible-to-rightly-govern-the-world-without-god-and-the/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [If Rob Ford decided he wanted to run for the Liberal Party in 2015, we'd say, 'No, sorry, the way you approach things, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-trudeau/if-rob-ford-decided-he-wanted-to-run-for-the-liberal-party-in-2015-we/) [Justin Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-trudeau/) > [In the White House, you can be on the pitcher's mound or you can be in the catcher's position. Put points on the board.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahm-emanuel/in-the-white-house-you-can-be-on-the-pitcher-s-mound-or-you-can-be-in/) [Rahm Emanuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahm-emanuel/) > [Those that govern most make least noise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-selden/those-that-govern-most-make-least-noise/) [John Selden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-selden/) > [The simple truth is that unless you can control immigration you cannot govern because you cannot set a budget or plan public services.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-mordaunt/the-simple-truth-is-that-unless-you-can-control-immigration-you/) [Penny Mordaunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-mordaunt/) > [Every class is unfit to govern.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/every-class-is-unfit-to-govern/) [Lord Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-acton/) > [In Washington and Moscow they are saying, 'Man has finally come of age; he doesn't need paternalistic help.' Which is another way of saying,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/in-washington-and-moscow-they-are-saying-man-has-finally-come-of-age/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [The only people who should suffer financial hardship when elected leaders can't govern are the elected leaders themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-phillips/the-only-people-who-should-suffer-financial-hardship-when-elected/) [Dean Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-phillips/) > [To govern mankind, one must not overrate them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-govern-mankind-one-must-not-overrate-them/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 331 Govern quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/govern/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Remember, your prerogative is to govern, and not to serve the things of this world.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas a Kempis" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/remember-your-prerogative-is-to-govern-and-not-to-serve-the-things-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Govern" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/remember-your-prerogative-is-to-govern-and-not-to-serve-the-things-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5e/thomas-a-kempis-721_govern_remember-your-prerogative-is-to-govern-a_2645575.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5e/thomas-a-kempis-721_govern_remember-your-prerogative-is-to-govern-a_2645575.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5e/thomas-a-kempis-721_govern_remember-your-prerogative-is-to-govern-a_2645575.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Remember, your prerogative is to govern, and not to serve the things of this world.” — 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": "Remember, your prerogative is to govern,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/remember-your-prerogative-is-to-govern-and-not-to-serve-the-things-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/remember-your-prerogative-is-to-govern-and-not-to-serve-the-things-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 } } ] } ```