--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We are sometimes stirred by emotion and…" description: "\"We are sometimes stirred by emotion and take it for zeal.\" — Thomas a Kempis" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6e/thomas-a-kempis-721_emotion_we-are-sometimes-stirred-by-emotion-and_1110380.png" --- # We are sometimes stirred by emotion and take it for zeal. ![“We are sometimes stirred by emotion and take it for zeal.” quote by Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6e/thomas-a-kempis-721_emotion_we-are-sometimes-stirred-by-emotion-and_1110380.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6e/thomas-a-kempis-721_emotion_we-are-sometimes-stirred-by-emotion-and_1110380.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6e/thomas-a-kempis-721_emotion_we-are-sometimes-stirred-by-emotion-and_1110380.png) > “We are sometimes stirred by emotion and take it for zeal.” [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. Emotions can be mistaken for genuine zeal, leading to misguided actions. **In simple terms:** Emotion isn’t always true zeal. Key Takeaway Discern genuine purpose from fleeting feelings. Themes spirituality self-awareness motivation Mood contemplative thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal decision making - leadership - activism - spiritual practice Key Concepts theology psychology ethics Questions to Reflect On - How can you test if your passion aligns with deeper values? - What practices help differentiate zeal from emotion? A Different Perspective Strong emotions may cloud judgment, causing impulsive choices. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Emotion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotion/) [Emotion Zeal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotion-zeal-2954591/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/) [Stirred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stirred/) [Stirred Emotion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stirred-emotion-2954592/) [Zeal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/zeal/) ## Related quotes > [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/) > [We are often moved with passion and think it to be zeal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/we-are-often-moved-with-passion-and-think-it-to-be-zeal/) [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [Now that I have written many words, and let out so many loves, for so many, and been altogether what I always was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sexton/now-that-i-have-written-many-words-and-let-out-so-many-loves-for-so/) [Anne Sexton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-sexton/) > [Sam Nunn might bring us Georgia and maybe even another Southern state but, in my opinion, at an unacceptable cost to our principles and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mixner/sam-nunn-might-bring-us-georgia-and-maybe-even-another-southern-state/) [David Mixner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mixner/) > [“Curiosity is also my worst vice, and once stirred one not to be denied.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-ryan/curiosity-is-also-my-worst-vice-and-once-stirred-one-not-to-be-denied/) [Anthony Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-ryan/) > [“Maybe it was just that this music had a personal connection to me, but for whatever reason, the music stirred my heart in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriellyn-gidman/maybe-it-was-just-that-this-music-had-a-personal-connection-to-me-but/) [Gabriellyn Gidman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriellyn-gidman/) > [I'm a mess right now I can't eat can't sleep Bills are piling high ain't worked in three weeks Ain't bathed can't shave cause…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hamilton/i-m-a-mess-right-now-i-can-t-eat-can-t-sleep-bills-are-piling-high/) [Anthony Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hamilton/) > [I don't know what would have happened to Wal-Mart if we had laid low and never stirred up the competition. My guess is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-walton/i-don-t-know-what-would-have-happened-to-wal-mart-if-we-had-laid-low/) [Sam Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-walton/) > [He appeared before me and departed. We were not able to speak to or touch each other. But in that short interval, he transformed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/he-appeared-before-me-and-departed-we-were-not-able-to-speak-to-or/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [It is when our hearts are stirred that we become most aware of what they contain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-stanley/it-is-when-our-hearts-are-stirred-that-we-become-most-aware-of-what/) [Andy Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-stanley/) > [“As the soap slid through sparse curls and into the cleft between her thighs, ribbons of unexpected sensation stirred from her most intimate flesh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerrigan-byrne/as-the-soap-slid-through-sparse-curls-and-into-the-cleft-between-her/) [Kerrigan Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerrigan-byrne/) > [One of my heroes is a composer named James Bernard, and oh my God... I can still listen to his music today and be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carpenter/one-of-my-heroes-is-a-composer-named-james-bernard-and-oh-my-god-i/) [John Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carpenter/) > [“This was real life cocoa. The kind you gave someone you loved because you couldn't think of anything else to do and both of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/this-was-real-life-cocoa-the-kind-you-gave-someone-you-loved-because/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [The Eisenhower Memorial competition and project have stirred a remarkable polemic, the center of which is not President Eisenhower or Washington, D.C. but Mr.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-krier/the-eisenhower-memorial-competition-and-project-have-stirred-a/) [Leon Krier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-krier/) > [“You weren't to know how your touch with the teaspoon stirred me…”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffany-atkinson/you-weren-t-to-know-how-your-touch-with-the-teaspoon-stirred-me/) [Tiffany Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffany-atkinson/) ## 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 Emotion quotes > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Of course I like you. It's because I like you I don't wanna be with you. It's a complicated emotion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlin/of-course-i-like-you-it-s-because-i-like-you-i-don-t-wanna-be-with/) [Marlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlin/) > [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/) > [“Emotion as well as reason belongs to the very stuff of history.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beryl-smalley/emotion-as-well-as-reason-belongs-to-the-very-stuff-of-history/) [Beryl Smalley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beryl-smalley/) > [It definitely helps to have the acting experience going into singing, because when you're singing, you have to portray the emotion you were feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-newman/it-definitely-helps-to-have-the-acting-experience-going-into-singing/) [Ryan Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-newman/) > [It is not my intention to explain Turkey, its culture and its problems. My literature has a universal concern: I want to bring people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orhan-pamuk/it-is-not-my-intention-to-explain-turkey-its-culture-and-its-problems/) [Orhan Pamuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orhan-pamuk/) > [For me, the term "psychotherapy" is limiting. It implies that we work with mind and emotions, but excludes the body and pays scant attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-diamond/for-me-the-term-psychotherapy-is-limiting-it-implies-that-we-work/) [Jed Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-diamond/) > [People are disturbed not by things but by the view they take of them. They may forget what you said, but they will never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/people-are-disturbed-not-by-things-but-by-the-view-they-take-of-them/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [There cannot be any communication except through form. 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