--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Who has a harder fight than he who is…" description: "\"Who has a harder fight than he who is striving to overcome himself.\" — Thomas a Kempis" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b62/thomas-a-kempis-721_art_who-has-a-harder-fight-than-he-who-is-st_367993.png" --- # Who has a harder fight than he who is striving to overcome… ![“Who has a harder fight than he who is striving to overcome himself.” quote by Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b62/thomas-a-kempis-721_art_who-has-a-harder-fight-than-he-who-is-st_367993.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b62/thomas-a-kempis-721_art_who-has-a-harder-fight-than-he-who-is-st_367993.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b62/thomas-a-kempis-721_art_who-has-a-harder-fight-than-he-who-is-st_367993.png) > “Who has a harder fight than he who is striving to overcome himself.” [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. Self‑overcoming is the toughest battle; inner struggle surpasses external conflicts. **In simple terms:** Self‑struggle is hardest. Key Takeaway Prioritize inner growth. Themes self‑discipline spirituality conflict Mood inspirational serene Type spiritual motivational When to use this quote - personal development - spiritual practice - addiction recovery Key Concepts inner vs outer self‑mastery Questions to Reflect On - What inner habits hinder you? - How can you measure inner progress? A Different Perspective External challenges can also be crucial. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Fight Striving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fight-striving-3363968/) [Fighting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fighting/) [Harder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harder/) [Harder Fight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harder-fight-945661/) [Martial arts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/martial-arts/) [Overcome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overcome/) [Overcoming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overcoming/) [Strive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strive/) [Striving Overcome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/striving-overcome-3363969/) ## Related quotes > [If I go as hard as I can in practice, make sure it's a lot harder than than a fight, then the fight's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashad-evans/if-i-go-as-hard-as-i-can-in-practice-make-sure-it-s-a-lot-harder-than/) [Rashad Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashad-evans/) > [“Frustration in a fight can lead to four things: You give up, you fight harder, you fight worse, or you cheat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/frustration-in-a-fight-can-lead-to-four-things-you-give-up-you-fight/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [“The harder the fight, the greater the victory.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-burkmenn/the-harder-the-fight-the-greater-the-victory/) [Chris Burkmenn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-burkmenn/) > [“It can be harder to fight a face than what makes up a face.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/feodore-wullborne/it-can-be-harder-to-fight-a-face-than-what-makes-up-a-face/) [Feodore Wullborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/feodore-wullborne/) > [The truth is, the harder you fight, the sweeter are the rewards in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-kom/the-truth-is-the-harder-you-fight-the-sweeter-are-the-rewards-in-the/) [Mary Kom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-kom/) > [“What was it, she wondered, that made some people give up and others fight harder? Where was her fight? She was out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaya-mclaren/what-was-it-she-wondered-that-made-some-people-give-up-and-others/) [Kaya McLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaya-mclaren/) > [I hope I get credit when I beat Jessie Vargas. I hope I get the credit I deserve. People want me to lose and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrien-broner/i-hope-i-get-credit-when-i-beat-jessie-vargas-i-hope-i-get-the-credit/) [Adrien Broner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrien-broner/) > [The players on the pitch have the responsibility to run harder, fight harder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casemiro/the-players-on-the-pitch-have-the-responsibility-to-run-harder-fight/) [Casemiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casemiro/) > [You might fly but I fly higher You might work but I work harder You might fight but I fight smarter Might not be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-might-fly-but-i-fly-higher-you-might-work-but-i-work-harder-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The harder you fight to hold on to specific assumptions, the more likely there's gold in letting go of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-seely-brown/the-harder-you-fight-to-hold-on-to-specific-assumptions-the-more/) [John Seely Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-seely-brown/) > [We always train with heavier sparring partners to make it harder so the fight will be easier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-aldo/we-always-train-with-heavier-sparring-partners-to-make-it-harder-so/) [Jose Aldo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-aldo/) > [Think about all of the times, situations, and circumstances where you have gotten caught up in making your self right rather than happy... The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-mcgraw/think-about-all-of-the-times-situations-and-circumstances-where-you/) [Phil McGraw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-mcgraw/) > [In public affairs, stupidity is more dangerous than knavery, because it is harder to fight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/in-public-affairs-stupidity-is-more-dangerous-than-knavery-because-it/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [“Life bites, and the harder you fight it, the more leverage it has to tear your heart right out of your chest.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-vincent/life-bites-and-the-harder-you-fight-it-the-more-leverage-it-has-to/) [Rachel Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-vincent/) > [It is harder to fight pleasure than to fight emotion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heraclitus/it-is-harder-to-fight-pleasure-than-to-fight-emotion/) [Heraclitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heraclitus/) ## 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 Art quotes > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/hear-the-sum-of-the-whole-matter-in-the-compass-of-one-brief-word/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) [Taf Teh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taf-teh/) > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [“The only thing--I tell you this straight from the heart--that disgusts me in Salzburg is that one can't have any proper social intercourse with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/the-only-thing-i-tell-you-this-straight-from-the-heart-that-disgusts/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) [Browse all 48,643 Art quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Who has a harder fight than he who is striving to overcome himself.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas a Kempis" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/who-has-a-harder-fight-than-he-who-is-striving-to-overcome-himself/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Art" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/who-has-a-harder-fight-than-he-who-is-striving-to-overcome-himself/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b62/thomas-a-kempis-721_art_who-has-a-harder-fight-than-he-who-is-st_367993.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b62/thomas-a-kempis-721_art_who-has-a-harder-fight-than-he-who-is-st_367993.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b62/thomas-a-kempis-721_art_who-has-a-harder-fight-than-he-who-is-st_367993.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Who has a harder fight than he who is striving to overcome himself.” — 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": "Who has a harder fight than...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/who-has-a-harder-fight-than-he-who-is-striving-to-overcome-himself/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/who-has-a-harder-fight-than-he-who-is-striving-to-overcome-himself/#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 } } ] } ```