--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Therefore, neither confide in nor depend…" description: "\"“Therefore, neither confide in nor depend upon a wind-shaken reed, for “all flesh is grass” and all its glory, like the flower of grass, will fade away..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/243/thomas-a-kempis-721_outward-appearance_therefore-neither-confide-in-nor-depend_1660162.jpg" --- # Therefore, neither confide in nor depend upon a… ![“Therefore, neither confide in nor depend upon a wind-shaken reed, for “all flesh is grass” and all its glory, like the flower of grass, will fade away. You will quickly be deceived if you look only to the outward appearance of men, and you will often be disappointed if you seek comfort and gain in…” quote by Thomas à Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/243/thomas-a-kempis-721_outward-appearance_therefore-neither-confide-in-nor-depend_1660162.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/243/thomas-a-kempis-721_outward-appearance_therefore-neither-confide-in-nor-depend_1660162.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/243/thomas-a-kempis-721_outward-appearance_therefore-neither-confide-in-nor-depend_1660162.jpg) > ““Therefore, neither confide in nor depend upon a wind-shaken reed, for “all flesh is grass” and all its glory, like the flower of grass, will fade away. You will quickly be deceived if you look only to the outward appearance of men, and you will often be disappointed if you seek comfort and gain in them.”” [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 should not trust or rely on fragile, worldly things, as all life is fleeting and appearances can be deceptive. **In simple terms:** Do not trust superficial appearances; life is temporary. Key Takeaway Seek deeper, lasting values. Themes faith impermanence discernment Mood contemplative serene Type spiritual ethical When to use this quote - personal relationships - career choices - material pursuits Key Concepts spirituality philosophy human frailty Questions to Reflect On - How do you discern lasting worth? - What practices foster inner stability? A Different Perspective Over‑reliance on external validation can lead to disappointment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Flesh Grass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flesh-grass-749648/) [Grass Fade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grass-fade-749646/) [Like Flower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-flower-242516/) [Outward appearance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/outward-appearance/) [Reed Flesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reed-flesh-749647/) [Seek Comfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seek-comfort-513522/) ## Related quotes > ['Bloom' is basically the idea that all flesh is grass, and that we can look at natural plant growth and organic material as outgrowths…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-goldberg/bloom-is-basically-the-idea-that-all-flesh-is-grass-and-that-we-can/) [Ken Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-goldberg/) > [Human life is but of brief duration. 'All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-basil/human-life-is-but-of-brief-duration-all-flesh-is-grass-and-all-the/) [Saint Basil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-basil/) > [“There were other things too, something resembling soggy cotton balls, and something else, like clumps of tangled hair, and all of that inhabited the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariam-petrosyan/there-were-other-things-too-something-resembling-soggy-cotton-balls/) [Mariam Petrosyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariam-petrosyan/) > [“Periodically throughout his life, he would seek comfort in his troubles by lurching into the wilderness, only to find more loneliness there and end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-naifeh-gregory-white-smith/periodically-throughout-his-life-he-would-seek-comfort-in-his/) [Steven Naifeh, Gregory White Smith ·](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-naifeh-gregory-white-smith/) > [Robert McKee says humans naturally seek comfort and stability. Without an inciting incident that disrupts their comfort, they won’t enter into a story. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/robert-mckee-says-humans-naturally-seek-comfort-and-stability-without/) [Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) > [Some seek the comfort of their therapist's office, other head to the corner pub and dive into a pint, but I chose running as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-karnazes/some-seek-the-comfort-of-their-therapist-s-office-other-head-to-the/) [Dean Karnazes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-karnazes/) > [Women who grow without a father often seek comfort in men. Find your worth in Christ. Men cannot fill any void in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/women-who-grow-without-a-father-often-seek-comfort-in-men-find-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Humans are designed to seek comfort and order, and so if they have comfort and order, they tend to plant themselves, even if their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/humans-are-designed-to-seek-comfort-and-order-and-so-if-they-have/) [Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) > [We all seek comfort, and I don't pretend to want to live in squalor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-fessenden/we-all-seek-comfort-and-i-don-t-pretend-to-want-to-live-in-squalor/) [Larry Fessenden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-fessenden/) > [“We seek substance, but fear its heft; seek direction, but fear its constriction; seek the comfort of knowing what we are meant to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-menkedick/we-seek-substance-but-fear-its-heft-seek-direction-but-fear-its/) [Sarah Menkedick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-menkedick/) > [“I cannot speak of the things I have seen, nor seek the comfort for the pain I feel. If I did, this nation would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-grahame-smith/i-cannot-speak-of-the-things-i-have-seen-nor-seek-the-comfort-for-the/) [Seth Grahame-Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-grahame-smith/) > [If we must live with a perpetual sense that the world and the men in it are greater than we and too much for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-robert-oppenheimer/if-we-must-live-with-a-perpetual-sense-that-the-world-and-the-men-in/) [J. Robert Oppenheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-robert-oppenheimer/) > [“Often when we seek comfort, what we long for is healing. If God removed the pain, frustration, discomfort or illness each time we sought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindee-snider-re/often-when-we-seek-comfort-what-we-long-for-is-healing-if-god-removed/) [Cindee Snider Re](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindee-snider-re/) > [“Some people find comfort in the past. Others seek comfort in the future. Very few consider the most beautiful place and time: here and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-marques/some-people-find-comfort-in-the-past-others-seek-comfort-in-the/) [Joan Marques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-marques/) > [These days too many of us seem inclined to cover our ears, close our eyes, and blindly follow the most narrow, conservative tenets of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-d-vinge/these-days-too-many-of-us-seem-inclined-to-cover-our-ears-close-our/) [Joan D. Vinge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-d-vinge/) ## 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 Outward appearance quotes > [“One by one, I'll face the tasks before me and complete them as best I can. Focusing on each stride forward, but at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/one-by-one-i-ll-face-the-tasks-before-me-and-complete-them-as-best-i/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [“While you judge me by my outward appearance I am silently doing the same to you, even though there's a ninety-percent chance that in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/while-you-judge-me-by-my-outward-appearance-i-am-silently-doing-the/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [To call him a dog hardly seems to do him justice, though inasmuch as he had four legs, a tail, and barked, I admit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermione-gingold/to-call-him-a-dog-hardly-seems-to-do-him-justice-though-inasmuch-as/) [Hermione Gingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermione-gingold/) > [What matters is not your outward appearance. . . but your inner disposition. Cultivate inner beauty, the gentle gracious kind that God delights in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-peter/what-matters-is-not-your-outward-appearance-but-your-inner/) [Saint Peter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-peter/) > [It is not your outward appearance that you should beautify, but your soul, adorning it with good works.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-of-alexandria/it-is-not-your-outward-appearance-that-you-should-beautify-but-your/) [Clement of Alexandria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clement-of-alexandria/) > [“Having, then, once introduced an element of inconsistency into his system, he was far too consistent not to be inconsistent consistently, and he lapsed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/having-then-once-introduced-an-element-of-inconsistency-into-his/) [Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) > [“Honey, God loves you just as you are. As people who have been created by God, we are infinitely precious to Him because we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corallie-buchanan/honey-god-loves-you-just-as-you-are-as-people-who-have-been-created/) [Corallie Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corallie-buchanan/) > [“When you meet someone, remember their outward appearance can be completely different from their insides. Be gentle.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bardsley/when-you-meet-someone-remember-their-outward-appearance-can-be/) [Anne Bardsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bardsley/) > [“Just because a person is attractive/beautiful, this does not mean it is okay to villainize them. We always say that we cannot judge a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-joybell-c/just-because-a-person-is-attractive-beautiful-this-does-not-mean-it/) [C. JoyBell C](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-joybell-c/) > [“Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-not-look-on-his-appearance-or-on-the-height-of-his-stature-because/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A sure way of retaining the grace of heaven is to disregard outward appearances, and diligently to cultivate such things as foster amendment of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/a-sure-way-of-retaining-the-grace-of-heaven-is-to-disregard-outward/) [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [In every walk of life each man puts on a personality and outward appearance so as to look what he wants to be thought;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/in-every-walk-of-life-each-man-puts-on-a-personality-and-outward/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Outward appearances mean everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-elkeles/outward-appearances-mean-everything/) [Simone Elkeles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-elkeles/) > [The cross is like a walnut whose outer rind is bitter, but the inner kernel is pleasant and invigorating. So the cross does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadhu-sundar-singh/the-cross-is-like-a-walnut-whose-outer-rind-is-bitter-but-the-inner/) [Sadhu Sundar Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadhu-sundar-singh/) > [You can recognize women who are grateful to be a daughter of God by their outward appearance. These women understand their stewardship over their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-d-nadauld/you-can-recognize-women-who-are-grateful-to-be-a-daughter-of-god-by/) [Margaret D. Nadauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-d-nadauld/) [Browse all 105 Outward appearance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/outward-appearance/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Therefore, neither confide in nor depend upon a wind-shaken reed, for “all flesh is grass” and all its glory, like the flower of grass, will fade away. 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