Book I, Chapter XIII · Of Resisting Temptation
Thomas à Kempis
Thomas à Kempis suggests that spiritual growth requires the grit of enduring and overcoming temptations. This idea pushes against the common desire to avoid struggle at all costs, emphasizing that adversity teaches humility and enlightenment. The saints, revered for their purity, reached such heights precisely by navigating the tumultuous waters of temptation. This path isn't a detour from holiness—it's the road itself.