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Source identified
“First keep thyself in peace, and then shalt thou be able to be a peacemaker towards others.”

Thomas à Kempis

Source
The Imitation of Christ
Date
15th century
Attribution
Source identified
English wording
William Benham — Translator · from Latin
Meaning

What does this quote mean?

The devotional instruction makes inward steadiness prior to outward peacemaking: a person who is internally ruled by agitation will struggle to reduce conflict in relationships around them.

Source context

Where does it come from?

The Imitation of Christ, Chapter III, “Of the good, peaceable man,” William Benham translation, Project Gutenberg #1653. The surrounding passage is explicitly Christian devotional teaching about peace, suspicion, anger and living peaceably with difficult people.

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Attribution

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This wording is connected with the named source shown above. Translations and editions can vary, so consult the source note when exact wording matters.

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