Book I, Chapter XVI · Of Bearing with the Faults of Others
Thomas à Kempis
Adversity strips away the pretense and reveals the core of our character. Thomas à Kempis highlights this against a backdrop of outward piety often masking inner emptiness. It's not the trials that weaken us—they serve as mirrors, exposing our hidden strengths and weaknesses. Many people avoid this reflection, preferring the comfort of illusion over the challenge of self-knowledge.