---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Some people are tempted most strongly at…"
description: "\"Some people are tempted most strongly at the beginning of their spiritual life, others near the end. Some are troubled all their lives. Still others re..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c0/thomas-a-kempis-721_decided_some-people-are-tempted-most-strongly-at_1388535.png"
---

#  Some people are tempted most strongly at the beginning of…

![“Some people are tempted most strongly at the beginning of their spiritual life, others near the end. Some are troubled all their lives. Still others receive only light temptation. Such things are decided by God, and we can trust his wisdom.” quote by Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c0/thomas-a-kempis-721_decided_some-people-are-tempted-most-strongly-at_1388535.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c0/thomas-a-kempis-721_decided_some-people-are-tempted-most-strongly-at_1388535.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c0/thomas-a-kempis-721_decided_some-people-are-tempted-most-strongly-at_1388535.png)

> “Some people are tempted most strongly at the beginning of their spiritual life, others near the end. Some are troubled all their lives. Still others receive only light temptation. Such things are decided by God, and we can trust his wisdom.”

[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.

Temptations vary across a lifetime; early, late, constant, or mild, and are ultimately governed by divine wisdom.

**In simple terms:** Temptations differ over life and are guided by God.

Key Takeaway

Trust God's timing in facing temptations.

Themes

faith temptation divine will spiritual growth

Mood

reflective serene

Type

spiritual theological philosophical

When to use this quote

- early spiritual struggles
- midlife crises
- late‑life doubts
- daily moral choices

Key Concepts

theology free will human frailty

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you discern divine guidance in temptation?
- Can you balance trust in God with personal accountability?

A Different Perspective

Assumes a deterministic view that may limit personal responsibility.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Spiritual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual/) [Spiritual life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual-life/) [Temptation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/temptation/)

## Related quotes

> [People will always be tempted to wipe their feet on anything with 'welcome' written on it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-partridge/people-will-always-be-tempted-to-wipe-their-feet-on-anything-with/)

[Andy Partridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-partridge/)

> [When women wear jeans people are tempted to pay attention to what is beyond it thus forcing them to do undesirable things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-j-yesudas/when-women-wear-jeans-people-are-tempted-to-pay-attention-to-what-is/)

[K. J. Yesudas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-j-yesudas/)

> [“Do not grieve over temptations you suffer. When the Lord intends to bestow a particular virtue on us, He often permits us first to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-not-grieve-over-temptations-you-suffer-when-the-lord-intends-to/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Anyone who is not totally dead to himself will soon find that he is tempted and overcome by piddling and frivolous things. Whoever is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/anyone-who-is-not-totally-dead-to-himself-will-soon-find-that-he-is/)

[Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/)

> [A coat that is not used, the moths eat; and a Christian who is hung up so that he shall not be tempted-the moths…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/a-coat-that-is-not-used-the-moths-eat-and-a-christian-who-is-hung-up/)

[Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/)

> [Temptation are just around us but its up to you on how you handle it, if you don't want to be tempted don't act…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annonymous/temptation-are-just-around-us-but-its-up-to-you-on-how-you-handle-it/)

Annonymous

> [I have more appreciation for why the Bible avoids fuzzy psychologisms and says simply to the stealer, "Steal no more," and to the tempted,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/i-have-more-appreciation-for-why-the-bible-avoids-fuzzy-psychologisms/)

[Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/)

> [Do this and you will be an apostle, a fulfiller of what the Lord chose you for, an accomplisher of your calling as messenger.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theophan-the-recluse/do-this-and-you-will-be-an-apostle-a-fulfiller-of-what-the-lord-chose/)

[Theophan the Recluse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theophan-the-recluse/)

> [There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-the-apostle/there-hath-no-temptation-taken-you-but-such-as-is-common-to-man-but/)

[Paul the Apostle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-the-apostle/)

> [“And what if you try to kill me? Or worse: to kiss me?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simona-panova/and-what-if-you-try-to-kill-me-or-worse-to-kiss-me/)

[Simona Panova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simona-panova/)

> [O mischief, thou art swift to enter in the thoughts of desperate men!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/o-mischief-thou-art-swift-to-enter-in-the-thoughts-of-desperate-men/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [We live in a time of transition, an uneasy era which is likely to endure for the rest of this century... During this period…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/we-live-in-a-time-of-transition-an-uneasy-era-which-is-likely-to/)

[Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/)

> [Do not be tempted to invest in a sample of each golfing invention as soon as it makes its appearance. If you do, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-vardon/do-not-be-tempted-to-invest-in-a-sample-of-each-golfing-invention-as/)

[Harry Vardon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-vardon/)

> ['Tis no sin to be tempted, but to be overcome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/tis-no-sin-to-be-tempted-but-to-be-overcome/)

[William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/)

> [Remain tranquil and prepare to bear still greater trials. All is not lost even though you be troubled oftener or tempted more grievously. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/remain-tranquil-and-prepare-to-bear-still-greater-trials-all-is-not/)

[Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/)

## 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 Decided quotes

> [My first ever job after college was as a flight attendant. I wanted to travel and could not afford it, so I decided to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-winspear/my-first-ever-job-after-college-was-as-a-flight-attendant-i-wanted-to/)

[Jacqueline Winspear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-winspear/)

> [The only thing I try to watch carefully is that I never lose the love for the instrument. That's also why I decided against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nils-frahm/the-only-thing-i-try-to-watch-carefully-is-that-i-never-lose-the-love/)

[Nils Frahm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nils-frahm/)

> [As a professional athlete and someone who has spent almost his entire life in boxing, not a day goes by when I don't think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-de-la-hoya/as-a-professional-athlete-and-someone-who-has-spent-almost-his-entire/)

[Oscar De La Hoya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-de-la-hoya/)

> [One day I decided I would like to put a record into my system. So I picked up a record that was lying on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauline-oliveros/one-day-i-decided-i-would-like-to-put-a-record-into-my-system-so-i/)

[Pauline Oliveros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauline-oliveros/)

> [I'm truly, 100% guided by the characters and my Muse. If one of the characters suddenly decided to do something very different, I'd just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lori-foster/i-m-truly-100-guided-by-the-characters-and-my-muse-if-one-of-the/)

[Lori Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lori-foster/)

> [I just decided to take some time off. I've been modeling since '93, '92, and that's a pretty long time. I'm a single mother…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-murphy/i-just-decided-to-take-some-time-off-i-ve-been-modeling-since-93-92/)

[Carolyn Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-murphy/)

> [When I became 21, I decided that nobody learned anything about politics after the age of 21.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grover-norquist/when-i-became-21-i-decided-that-nobody-learned-anything-about/)

[Grover Norquist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grover-norquist/)

> [Before I started doing the film and when I found out I was going to be doing it, I just decided to pump up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parminder-nagra/before-i-started-doing-the-film-and-when-i-found-out-i-was-going-to/)

[Parminder Nagra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parminder-nagra/)

> [In a personal way, to do with family and the father-son relationship, in a kind of artistic way with regard to him being an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-serkis/in-a-personal-way-to-do-with-family-and-the-father-son-relationship/)

[Andy Serkis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-serkis/)

> [You've decided to love me for eternity, I'm still deciding who I want to be today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/you-ve-decided-to-love-me-for-eternity-i-m-still-deciding-who-i-want/)

[Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/)

> [I turned to my mom and said, 'I'm going to be a martial arts movie star.' She didn't believe me, and neither did my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adkins/i-turned-to-my-mom-and-said-i-m-going-to-be-a-martial-arts-movie-star/)

[Scott Adkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adkins/)

> [He decided then that he would love her forever no matter what came to pass. It was not so much a matter of deciding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-guterson/he-decided-then-that-he-would-love-her-forever-no-matter-what-came-to/)

[David Guterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-guterson/)

> [At age 28, I had no retail experience, no consumer marketing experience and no real Internet experience. But I decided I wanted to work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariam-naficy/at-age-28-i-had-no-retail-experience-no-consumer-marketing-experience/)

[Mariam Naficy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariam-naficy/)

> [Work hard on each opinion, but once the case is decided, don't look back; go on to the next case and give it your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/work-hard-on-each-opinion-but-once-the-case-is-decided-don-t-look/)

[Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/)

> [You see, years ago I was just an ordinary bee minding my own business, smelling flowers all day, and occasionally picking up part-time work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norton-juster/you-see-years-ago-i-was-just-an-ordinary-bee-minding-my-own-business/)

[Norton Juster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norton-juster/)

Browse all 3,155 Decided quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Some people are tempted most strongly at the beginning of their spiritual life, others near the end. Some are troubled all their lives. Still others receive only light temptation. Such things are decided by God, and we can trust his wisdom.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Thomas a Kempis"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/some-people-are-tempted-most-strongly-at-the-beginning-of-their/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Decided"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/some-people-are-tempted-most-strongly-at-the-beginning-of-their/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c0/thomas-a-kempis-721_decided_some-people-are-tempted-most-strongly-at_1388535.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c0/thomas-a-kempis-721_decided_some-people-are-tempted-most-strongly-at_1388535.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c0/thomas-a-kempis-721_decided_some-people-are-tempted-most-strongly-at_1388535.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Some people are tempted most strongly at the beginning of their spiritual life, others near the end. Some…” — 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": "Some people are tempted most strongly...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/some-people-are-tempted-most-strongly-at-the-beginning-of-their/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/some-people-are-tempted-most-strongly-at-the-beginning-of-their/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
