Thomas a Kempis, The Imitation of Christ 3.32

Of self-denial and the casting away of all selfishness

1. "My Son, you cannot possess perfect liberty unless you altogether deny yourself. All they are enslaved who are possessors of riches, they who love themselves, the selfish, the curious, the restless; those who ever seek after soft things, and not after the things of Jesus Christ; those who continually plan and devise that which will not stand. For whatsoever comes not of God shall perish. Hold fast the short and complete saying, 'Renounce all things, and you shall find all things; give up your lust, and you shall find rest.' Dwell upon this in your mind, and when you are full of it, you shall understand all things."

2. O Lord, this is not the work of a day, nor children's play; verily in this short saying is enclosed all the perfection of the religious.

3. "My son, you ought not to be turned aside, nor immediately cast down, because you have heard the way of the perfect. Rather you ought to be provoked to higher aims, and at the least to long after the desire thereof. Oh that it were so with you, and that you had come to this, that you were not a lover of your own self, but wert ready always to My nod, and to his whom I have placed over you as your father. Then should you please Me exceedingly, and all your life should go on in joy and peace. You still have many things to renounce, which if you resign not utterly to Me, you shall not gain what you seek. I counsel you to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that you may be rich, that is heavenly wisdom, which despises all base things. Put away from your earthly wisdom, and all pleasure, whether common to men, or your own.

4. "I tell you that you must buy vile things with those which are costly and great in the esteem of men. For wonderfully vile and small, and almost given up to forgetfulness, does true heavenly wisdom appear, which thinks not high things of itself, nor seeks to be magnified upon the earth; many honor it with their lips, but in heart are far from it; it is indeed the precious pearl, which is hidden from many."