Of the Imitation of Christ/Book III/Chapter XLI
CHAPTER XLI.
OF THE CONTEMPT OF TEMPORAL HONOUR.
Y son, trouble not thyself, if thou see others honoured and advanced, whilst thou art contemned and debased.
Lift up thy heart into heaven to Me, and the contempt of men on earth shall not grieve thee.
Lord, we are blind, and are quickly misled by vanity.
If I look rightly into myself, I cannot say that any creature hath ever done me wrong: and therefore I cannot justly complain before Thee.
2. But because I have often and grievously sinned against Thee, all creatures do justly take arms against me.
Therefore, unto me shame and contempt are justly due, but unto Thee praise, honour, and glory.
And unless I prepare myself with cheerful willingness to be despised and forsaken of all creatures, and to be esteemed as nothing, I cannot obtain inward peace and stability, nor be spiritually enlightened, nor be fully united unto Thee.