Johan Amos Comenius

“ Therefore you shall think no anchor securely fixed, except in the mercy of God and the merit of Christ—safe under this shield, provided your own will be entirely resigned, and all confidence in yourself and every other creature laid aside, you deliver up to God alone the decision respecting you in this life and for eternity.
Summarily—Live while you live as if about to die, in order that you may die, when you come to die, as if you were about to live. Alas for those who rise again to death! If you wish to rise again to life, you must be careful that you die not in your death. ”

“ Live to Fame, which is the life after your life. Therefore, may the Spirit of Christ be with you, so that you may rightly perceive and observe all these things:—and, from my heart, I desire the salvation of your soul, and all prosperity to your affairs, and that the perpetual splendour of your family, in church and country, may be transmitted through you to after ages. ”

“ Inasmuch, however, as man comes not to eternity unless through death, during your whole life prepare yourself for death—that it may be blessed to you, and not swallow you up, but only introduce you to eternity. ”

“ The chief good in life is a soul tranquil and serene, and free from the storms of anxiety. That you may attain this blessed port, observe the following things:—
1. Labour to prevent whatever may disturb the mind or conscience, that you may have no share in such things. A multitude or diversity of occupations may disturb the mind, in which, whoever involves himself, will certainly find thorns, although occasional roses may appear; therefore that you may be tranquil, beware of being a man of many occupations—a busybody. Such things as appertain to yourself transact in silence ”

“ If you have engraven on your heart my often iterated admonitions and the favour of the Divine blessing invoked upon you,—to which the truth of God may add its seal, as you truly purpose to continue in the ways of God,—what need is there of a memorial on paper? ”

“ Remember, however, that the ends of things, the means, and the modes of things depend, on your part, not on idle speculation, but on use. Truly to have power of or to understand any thing is vain, unless you use it. ”

“ Always pay more attention to the mind than to the body. It has been rightly said by Epictetus, "The things which appertain to the body ought to be performed incidentally; the things appertaining to the mind are worthy of fixed care;" for we have the body from the earth, and it ought not to be more valued than vessels of clay, whereas the soul is from God, therefore greater (in value) than the world, and ought to be highly prized, purely preserved, and restored to God unstained. If you lose the soul, the whole world will not suffice for its redemption ”

“ Transact those things which primarily concern your own safety and that of your household; commit the rest to God who exercises a care over us.
Now, the conscience is disturbed by the admission of sins. When the soul is conscious to itself of guilt, it blushes in the eyes of God and man, and trembles at the merited punishments; therefore, if you desire a tranquil conscience, strive that it may have nothing which it may object to you ”

“ Therefore, when you go to strangers, you will not go, as it were, into another world—the whole world is the father-land of a wise man—but, as to a school which God has willed to be common—so that we, as spectators and bearers by mutual sight and intercourse, may exercise and improve each other. ”

“ I repeat, accustom not yourself to depend upon others—mark this well. Let your industry in your own affairs, your consciousness of righteous purposes, and your confidence in God be your sacred anchor. ”

“ And inasmuch as none is able to follow good and avoid evil, except him who knows what is good and what is evil—for there is no desire of an unknown good and no dread of an unknown evil—throughout your whole life, you must so act that you conform not to this age, but be transformed in newness of your mind ”

“ On the contrary, by how much the more torpid anything is, by so much the more useless it is; as a stone, clay, ditch, &c.; do you therefore, that you may not be a stone or a useless weight of earth, but an active sun always shining, or an angel always ministering in place of God to men, use all your efforts. ”

“ If at any time you must fight against vices and do not altogether escape the wounds of conscience, immediately recollect yourself, and instantly cast out the nest which satan is beginning to build within you; that is, immediately, at the very beginning of sin, forthwith have recourse to penitence, before the horror of sin expire, and the deadly poison become sweet, and conscience begin to die. ”

“ God is the fountain of all harmony. He made all things harmoniously; especially man his own image, if we do not by our irrational acts disturb that harmony in the eyes and ears of God, of angels, and of such men as judge wisely of us. ”

“ Whatever you see ought to be done by you, provided you know the means of effecting it, and the prudent use of the means, dare to engage in it. It is better to fail in good attempts, as sometimes happens, than to neglect occasions of increasing any good things. ”

“ You will depart from the sight of your parents and your country, not, however, like Cain, a deserter from the face of God, to seek a field for impiety and licentiousness. For wherever you go, the Eyes of God will accompany you, and along with these, blessings or curses will overtake you. ”

“ Whatever you are able to expedite yourself, never wait for others. Thus relying more on your own industry than on that of another; for it often happens that before you have related the matter to another, and he has perceived it, deliberated upon it, and prepared himself for it, you yourself might have done it ”

“ He by whom many things must be done, must express himself in few words. Understand this both actively and passively—that is, both he himself, when he must speak, should express himself in few words, and request that any other who may wish to address him, should briefly deliver himself. The discourse of the wise is short—talk beyond what is necessary, appertains to idleness. ”

“ Think on this likewise, that it is better that a vessel never be soiled than that it be to be cleansed, and that it is better not to be wounded than to have to be cured, and better to exclude an enemy from the interior of a kingdom, than to wish to expel him when admitted and laying all things waste, &c.; inasmuch as it is easier and safer. ”

“ It sometimes happens that the active are overwhelmed with business, still activity of life must not on that account be abandoned; for compendious means are available, by which distressing cares may be alleviated. That you may know such, remember these rules:—
1. Put value on time, so that you permit no portion of it to escape uselessly—so, more ample spaces of time of acting will be to you, than to another who knows not how to seize occasions. ”

“ Attend more to yourself than to others; that is, transact your own affairs, not the affairs of others; and do you yourself take charge of yourself rather than commit that charge to others; and finally, depend the rather upon yourself than upon others. ”

“ Above all things you will reflect, why you undertake the labour of travelling—certainly not to see new mountains, new plains, forests, rivers, or seas, or men, or beasts, for you can see such things at home. In this sense it has been rightly said by a certain writer: "Whosoever hath seen one man, one ox, one mountain, one forest, one city, &c. has seen the world, for the world is composed of such;" ”

“ Whatever evil may arise from another, or from the sufferance of God, who rarely permits his own to be without trials of some kind, inasmuch as He knows that they are made perfect through the exercises of virtues and patience, will issue in an increase of joy, and therefore in a greater security of mind. ”

“ Whatever can be expedited more quickly by the aid of others, fail not to employ them; thus business will proceed more quickly—more hands more work—provided that order be preserved, so that your fellow-labourers may not impede or disturb you or themselves. ”

“ Remember moreover that in sensual temptations, flight is always safer than conflict; and that Joseph acted wisely who, when a reasonable defence of his upright purpose did not suffice, chose rather to rescue himself by flight than to parley; an enemy is cast out with less honour and with more danger than his entrance is prevented. ”

“ Always consider, do, and transact former things first—better things the rather—late things late—graceful things gracefully—loving things lovingly—divine things divinely--human things humanly, &c.; otherwise you throw into confusion yourself and such things. ”

“ He is an imprudent man, who, when he sees another has fallen anywhere, still goes directly there. Now we see daily that men on certain occasions fall and perish, and yet shall we not be careful?
2. If at any time you encounter occasions of any sin, fortify the mind that you may not succumb, but come off victorious. ”

“ Woe to you, hypocrites! who are like to whitened sepulchres, which outwardly look beautiful to men, but inwardly are full of the bones of the dead (Matt. xxiii. 27) .
4. Finally, let your thoughts, words, and deeds before men exactly agree; let the heart never dissent from the lip, nor the lip from the hand; a man with a double heart is a monster, &c. ”

“ His appeal was readily responded to, and the council, seconding the desire of the parent, Comenius was constrained to take the son under his care, who was the only youth favoured with the instruction of that most worthy man, during his abode at Elbing. ”

“ And inasmuch as it has not been said in vain," occasions make no man bad, but evince what manner of man he is"—sand applied to fire does not blaze—tow burrs—when brought into temptation, reflect: If I consent to evil, I evince that I am evil, and that I have been a hypocrite ”