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Humility and the Elevation of the Mind to God
This classic work from Thomas à Kempis, author of The Imitation of Christ , is now available in English for the first time.
It is a simple truth that, without the virtue of humility, we cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven. It simply cannot be done. Just as pride is the root and source of all sin, so is humility the foundational virtue in which all other virtues must be grounded if they are to bear fruit.
Humility is the heartbeat of the saints. It is the virtue that conforms us most closely to Christ. In this short but deeply rich book, the great spiritual master, Thomas à Kempis, will teach you the necessity of humility and how to cultivate it, how to identify the manifestations of pride, how to elevate your mind to God, and how to pray with humility and reverence.
This timeless work also includes some of the most beautiful prayers ever written to God, the Blessed Mother, and the saints that will help you advance in virtue and pray with fervor.
It is a simple truth that, without the virtue of humility, we cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven. It simply cannot be done. Just as pride is the root and source of all sin, so is humility the foundational virtue in which all other virtues must be grounded if they are to bear fruit.
Humility is the heartbeat of the saints. It is the virtue that conforms us most closely to Christ. In this short but deeply rich book, the great spiritual master, Thomas à Kempis, will teach you the necessity of humility and how to cultivate it, how to identify the manifestations of pride, how to elevate your mind to God, and how to pray with humility and reverence.
This timeless work also includes some of the most beautiful prayers ever written to God, the Blessed Mother, and the saints that will help you advance in virtue and pray with fervor.
128 pages, Hardcover
Published October 5, 2021
202 people are currently reading
193 people want to read
About the author
Thomas à Kempis
728 books395 followersThomas Hammerken (or Hammerlein -- both mean "little hammer") / Thomas de Kempis / Thomas Hamerken von Kempen was born at Kempen (hence the "A Kempis") in the duchy of Cleves in Germany around 1380. He was educated by a religious order called the Brethren of the Common Life, and in due course joined the order, was ordained a priest, became sub-prior of his house (in the low Countries), and died 25 July 1471 (his feast is observed a day early to avoid conflict with that of James bar-Zebedee the Apostle).
Thomas is known almost entirely for composing or compiling a manual of spiritual advice known as The Imitation of Christ, in which he urges the reader to seek to follow the example of Jesus Christ and to be conformed in all things to His will.
Thomas is known almost entirely for composing or compiling a manual of spiritual advice known as The Imitation of Christ, in which he urges the reader to seek to follow the example of Jesus Christ and to be conformed in all things to His will.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
July 13, 2023
My sister gave me this. She said she was disappointed in it. I understand. If you are looking for a
treatise
on Humility, this is not the book you want*. Only the first 11 pages discuss what Humility is all about. The rest of the book consists of various prayers to help one overcome this pervasive fault. So, for me, I LOVE this book—because I know I need all the prayers I can say and then some! It has a permanent place in my Adoration bag. Humility is insidious; there is no way to really know if you are humble, but chances are, you aren't. And certainly, if you think you are humble, you aren't. Therefore, asking for God's grace to overcome Pride is something we will have to do for the rest of our lives. All other sins stem from Pride, just as all virtues come from Humility.
*I would recommend instead, Humility of Heart.
I am not not NOT finished with this book—and never will be—but I am marking it as read, because I have read it and maybe, just maybe understand a bit, thanks mostly to my own failures to live its precepts.
*I would recommend instead, Humility of Heart.
I am not not NOT finished with this book—and never will be—but I am marking it as read, because I have read it and maybe, just maybe understand a bit, thanks mostly to my own failures to live its precepts.
January 6, 2026
Found a free copy by adding a request to a search engine ( I use Brave and Duck Duck Go) of the author Thomas Kempis with the title, Humility. A free PDF is offered in a few links. Then, add to Speechify with a narrator that’s vintage UK dialect.
With Speechify can choose different languages, dialects, etc. For out of print older books enjoy the white bearded “Narrator” as he’s titled.
You can find many books this way. Archive.org is another resource.
This might not be a good read for someone who is not accustomed to or does not like language that is different from our modern vernacular.
Thomas Kempis was a spiritual man who lived a holy life many hundreds of years ago. This is why I like the man’s voice or an older dude from the UK.
What I enjoy about his work is the thoughtful countenance of Christ and how it relates to being wholly holy and humility in and of itself is a journey of grace, becoming, practice, and progressive sanctification.
This topic though brief in this short book carries a lifetime of experiences. Worth reading more than once. Employing a lesson and rereading for another installment of practice.
God is with me and you. Even for those who do not believe this is so or society has convinced by way of politics or religious conventions … He is. And, practicing ways to be more for oneself bleeds over to more for others. This activates the connection to the spiritual energy that supports a relationship with others and can, with God, too.
Humility is a great place to begin the journey of self discovery. Keep in mind Kempis is directing this walk with God. Though when principle is applied will work regardless of one’s beliefs.
Reflecting on the first time God showed me humility is a forte in 2004 while on a discovery of applying scripture to action. Asking open ended questions in prayer. Waiting on God for a reply.
Someone yelled at me and hung up the phone. When I asked God was there something I could have done differently. Could I improve my approach. Remember hearing a program on the radio the next day that gave me the answer. So, moving forward I have ever since made certain to share a concern without it sounding like a criticism.
I remember thinking, oh, this is what humility is. Was grateful for the lesson.
The person was feeling sensitive and misunderstood me. An apology and hearing them out is always a great way to resolve my part. Though the other persons unadulting choice to react as they did helped me in not engaging with them on more personal matters moving forward.
The next thing that came up was me asking, why did I find their behavior silly. I felt it was not okay to make light of their obvious turmoiled spirit. Not to demean their response. But their reaction was over the top. Like to the moon inappropriate.
God being a humorist replied, in the spirit I was like a big Italian guido from NY.
Meaning’ (slang, US) Italian-American male; an American male of Italian extraction as a member of the working-class’
Standing between you and him. Saying to the guy, “you talkin’ to me? (Deep Italian NYC dialect) ‘Cause I know you’re not talkin’ to my wife like that.” 😆
Given I was single and obedient to godly principles felt protected and loved by Him in that moment. Having this is why the person hung up perhaps. They were not getting an argument or yelling from me in reply.
If anything, until God helped me understand what my part was and how to do a better job in the future would not have figured out their problem.
Moments we have conflict from someone are great opportunities to self reflect. Show up different. The other person may not always know how to communicate their need or be someone who cares to behave in a mature way.
If we are humble can show grace. This can be a step for the other person. Like, in marriage grace and humility can heal a lot of wounds we bring to the relationship that show up. With the love of God and the other persons ability to demonstrate humility and deep listening would resolve a lot of struggles.
Decades later, learned my Great Great Grandpa is first generation born in America is born of Italian parents who migrated here. Maybe it was this God used to make me laugh many years into the future while writing this review with a personal example. My descendants sticking up for me from a heavenly visit.
I realize people do not believe God communicates. My countless stories and testimonies tell me he does with me.
It is like any relationship. Learning how to communicate and create dialogue is different in every connection.
In contemplative prayer and sincere seeking have learned how my actions activate the connection and my sincere heart grounded in faith accesses what I call direct dial.
Penny, someone I worked for many years ago, asked me how I hear from God. Upon sharing examples she said, “I think you hear from God the way you do because sometimes He’s all you’ve had”.
Maybe so. This statement is sad and joyous at once. For Him to be all I have had at times means being deprived of things that do not bear mention.
To learn great joy to balance the scale can mean deep loss.
Anyway, hope this share encourages you regardless of your station in life or beliefs. Humility is a quality that benefits ourselves, our families, friends, coworkers, community, and the world.
If we want more peace we must be grounded in peace. If we wish others to be more thoughtful we must emit humility and thoughtfulness.
It is not about being the bigger person when moments like the one where someone yelled at me had me look inside at my roll, if any. But it is an opportunity for us to become our best.
If we have no humility and stumble we will create unnecessary drama. If we host a humble heart this opens the door to being a bridge for those who may struggle and erupt. Such was the case and it was up to me to make a mends and seek a thoughtful effort of self improvement. To be a better person for others and myself.
Often it is not the misunderstanding that is the problem. It is our personal accountability. Even if we did zero wrong, our countenance with humility can help us help ourselves and those who struggle.
Christ is this for me. The Holy Spirit is the guidepost that holds my heart, so to speak.
It is my hope this type of review does not repel someone of different beliefs or view. Please take what you need. Leave what you do not. Carry the ideas in case they become useful at some point.
Life is full of happenstances ways of being more humble never lose momentum or usefulness.
And, now, in the words of Paul Harvey, you know the rest of the story … why engaging in grounded words of wisdom on humility keeps my practice in check. And why I picked this short book to explore how it is going.
Hope you are having a pleasant spring where ever you are in the world.
Kind regards, Patience 😊❤️
With Speechify can choose different languages, dialects, etc. For out of print older books enjoy the white bearded “Narrator” as he’s titled.
You can find many books this way. Archive.org is another resource.
This might not be a good read for someone who is not accustomed to or does not like language that is different from our modern vernacular.
Thomas Kempis was a spiritual man who lived a holy life many hundreds of years ago. This is why I like the man’s voice or an older dude from the UK.
What I enjoy about his work is the thoughtful countenance of Christ and how it relates to being wholly holy and humility in and of itself is a journey of grace, becoming, practice, and progressive sanctification.
This topic though brief in this short book carries a lifetime of experiences. Worth reading more than once. Employing a lesson and rereading for another installment of practice.
God is with me and you. Even for those who do not believe this is so or society has convinced by way of politics or religious conventions … He is. And, practicing ways to be more for oneself bleeds over to more for others. This activates the connection to the spiritual energy that supports a relationship with others and can, with God, too.
Humility is a great place to begin the journey of self discovery. Keep in mind Kempis is directing this walk with God. Though when principle is applied will work regardless of one’s beliefs.
Reflecting on the first time God showed me humility is a forte in 2004 while on a discovery of applying scripture to action. Asking open ended questions in prayer. Waiting on God for a reply.
Someone yelled at me and hung up the phone. When I asked God was there something I could have done differently. Could I improve my approach. Remember hearing a program on the radio the next day that gave me the answer. So, moving forward I have ever since made certain to share a concern without it sounding like a criticism.
I remember thinking, oh, this is what humility is. Was grateful for the lesson.
The person was feeling sensitive and misunderstood me. An apology and hearing them out is always a great way to resolve my part. Though the other persons unadulting choice to react as they did helped me in not engaging with them on more personal matters moving forward.
The next thing that came up was me asking, why did I find their behavior silly. I felt it was not okay to make light of their obvious turmoiled spirit. Not to demean their response. But their reaction was over the top. Like to the moon inappropriate.
God being a humorist replied, in the spirit I was like a big Italian guido from NY.
Meaning’ (slang, US) Italian-American male; an American male of Italian extraction as a member of the working-class’
Standing between you and him. Saying to the guy, “you talkin’ to me? (Deep Italian NYC dialect) ‘Cause I know you’re not talkin’ to my wife like that.” 😆
Given I was single and obedient to godly principles felt protected and loved by Him in that moment. Having this is why the person hung up perhaps. They were not getting an argument or yelling from me in reply.
If anything, until God helped me understand what my part was and how to do a better job in the future would not have figured out their problem.
Moments we have conflict from someone are great opportunities to self reflect. Show up different. The other person may not always know how to communicate their need or be someone who cares to behave in a mature way.
If we are humble can show grace. This can be a step for the other person. Like, in marriage grace and humility can heal a lot of wounds we bring to the relationship that show up. With the love of God and the other persons ability to demonstrate humility and deep listening would resolve a lot of struggles.
Decades later, learned my Great Great Grandpa is first generation born in America is born of Italian parents who migrated here. Maybe it was this God used to make me laugh many years into the future while writing this review with a personal example. My descendants sticking up for me from a heavenly visit.
I realize people do not believe God communicates. My countless stories and testimonies tell me he does with me.
It is like any relationship. Learning how to communicate and create dialogue is different in every connection.
In contemplative prayer and sincere seeking have learned how my actions activate the connection and my sincere heart grounded in faith accesses what I call direct dial.
Penny, someone I worked for many years ago, asked me how I hear from God. Upon sharing examples she said, “I think you hear from God the way you do because sometimes He’s all you’ve had”.
Maybe so. This statement is sad and joyous at once. For Him to be all I have had at times means being deprived of things that do not bear mention.
To learn great joy to balance the scale can mean deep loss.
Anyway, hope this share encourages you regardless of your station in life or beliefs. Humility is a quality that benefits ourselves, our families, friends, coworkers, community, and the world.
If we want more peace we must be grounded in peace. If we wish others to be more thoughtful we must emit humility and thoughtfulness.
It is not about being the bigger person when moments like the one where someone yelled at me had me look inside at my roll, if any. But it is an opportunity for us to become our best.
If we have no humility and stumble we will create unnecessary drama. If we host a humble heart this opens the door to being a bridge for those who may struggle and erupt. Such was the case and it was up to me to make a mends and seek a thoughtful effort of self improvement. To be a better person for others and myself.
Often it is not the misunderstanding that is the problem. It is our personal accountability. Even if we did zero wrong, our countenance with humility can help us help ourselves and those who struggle.
Christ is this for me. The Holy Spirit is the guidepost that holds my heart, so to speak.
It is my hope this type of review does not repel someone of different beliefs or view. Please take what you need. Leave what you do not. Carry the ideas in case they become useful at some point.
Life is full of happenstances ways of being more humble never lose momentum or usefulness.
And, now, in the words of Paul Harvey, you know the rest of the story … why engaging in grounded words of wisdom on humility keeps my practice in check. And why I picked this short book to explore how it is going.
Hope you are having a pleasant spring where ever you are in the world.
Kind regards, Patience 😊❤️
Read
June 13, 2022Review pending
November 2, 2023
Nothing in this one really grabbed me.
March 11, 2022
Beautiful
In this book I learned the difference between worshipping and respecting the saints and martyrs of old. We respect them for there example of the graces and virtues in there life so that we may have hope in this sinful corrupt body if ours. God never change...
In this book I learned the difference between worshipping and respecting the saints and martyrs of old. We respect them for there example of the graces and virtues in there life so that we may have hope in this sinful corrupt body if ours. God never change...
December 17, 2021
Over 50% of the book is extremely lengthy prayers.
December 27, 2025
A short book on, pretty much, the topics suggested by the title.
There are twenty-six chapters. The first nine are brief exhortations; the remainin seventeen are a dialog between two voices: The Beloved (God) and The Learner (an idealized version of the reader of the book).
To a modern reader, this book may seem harsh. Large swathes of Christendom have lost a great deal of the judgmental edge that has characterized it throughout its history. Whether this is a bad change or a good, you must decide for yourself; my point here is that this seeming harshness was quite the norm when the book was written, somewhere around the middle third of the fifteenth century.
A Christian reading the book today will find much to consider. At any rate, I did.
7 out of 10 boards for bashing oneself over the head with.
There are twenty-six chapters. The first nine are brief exhortations; the remainin seventeen are a dialog between two voices: The Beloved (God) and The Learner (an idealized version of the reader of the book).
To a modern reader, this book may seem harsh. Large swathes of Christendom have lost a great deal of the judgmental edge that has characterized it throughout its history. Whether this is a bad change or a good, you must decide for yourself; my point here is that this seeming harshness was quite the norm when the book was written, somewhere around the middle third of the fifteenth century.
A Christian reading the book today will find much to consider. At any rate, I did.
7 out of 10 boards for bashing oneself over the head with.
April 10, 2022
The author's essay is beautiful. The prayers are beautiful. The only thing that is not beautiful is the $24.99 price tag on this book. It's a bit pricey for a book that can be read in under 2 hours, especially when over 50% of the book consists of prayers that are almost as long as The Rosary. Don't get me wrong, I love TAN as a publisher, but they really do know how to jack up the prices on public domain works.
November 24, 2025
Thomas à Kempis's "Humility and the Elevation of the Mind to God" states that humility is the foundation of all Christian virtue, the antidote to pride, and the necessary path to union with God. The work makes it clear that the only way to elevate our minds toward divine truth and eternal life is by lowering ourselves in humility.
This text is a perfect complement to Kempis's more famous The Imitation of Christ. While that work focuses on imitating Christ's life, Humility and the Elevation of the Mind to God zeroes in on the inner disposition of humility as the essential condition for spiritual progress. The path to God is paved with humility.
This text is a perfect complement to Kempis's more famous The Imitation of Christ. While that work focuses on imitating Christ's life, Humility and the Elevation of the Mind to God zeroes in on the inner disposition of humility as the essential condition for spiritual progress. The path to God is paved with humility.
January 1, 2026
Excellent Source for Discovering the Godly Path
This was a superb guide to the inner life, set forth as a dialogue between "the Learner". and God. Each meditation is full of excellent advice for those of us who struggle with pride and vainglory. A must read for anyone trying to deepen their relationship with God.
This was a superb guide to the inner life, set forth as a dialogue between "the Learner". and God. Each meditation is full of excellent advice for those of us who struggle with pride and vainglory. A must read for anyone trying to deepen their relationship with God.
June 27, 2025
HARDCORE HUMILITY
This book isn't for everybody. Kempis takes a very serious look at humility and how we can grow closer to God. Some may think he is too hard on the reader, but considering the stakes, I think not.
This book isn't for everybody. Kempis takes a very serious look at humility and how we can grow closer to God. Some may think he is too hard on the reader, but considering the stakes, I think not.
Read
December 23, 2025It is a nice book. I was, admittedly, expecting something of the same structure of The Imitation, expectations which turned out to be wrong. About half of the book consists of prayers -- which are great indeed, but the astringent tone of the aforementioned book is notably absent.
February 26, 2022
Thomas Kempis books are always so practical and easy to understand. This book is no exception. Humility is a virtue that captivates me.
April 21, 2023
one of the best reflections on humility I have read. Although the second part was not as useful for me.
February 26, 2024
For anyone looking for an entire book on humility, this isn’t it. For anyone looking for an accumulation of every prayer on humility known to man, this book is it.
August 26, 2024
Definitely Recommend
Very eye opening little book , definitely would recommend this book to everyone who is interested in humility of oneself
Very eye opening little book , definitely would recommend this book to everyone who is interested in humility of oneself
October 21, 2025
It was nice to align with the thought processes one may have as a Christian in relationship to God. It was a good read.
June 21, 2024
Kempis keeps you wanting more, I feel it is never enough when it comes to the knowledge of an infinite energy source.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews