# Of Contempt of All Temporal Honour explained — The Imitation of Christ

> Chapter companion for The Imitation of Christ by Thomas à Kempis.

## What happens

The chapter teaches the disciple to disregard worldly honor and accept contempt and humiliation, recognizing that such trials lead to inner peace and union with God.

## Themes in this chapter

### Contempt for the World

The chapter explicitly teaches contempt for temporal honor and acceptance of worldly humiliation.

### Humility and Self-Denial

The disciple embraces being despised and esteemed as nothing, a key aspect of self-denial.

## Character check-ins

### Jesus Christ

Speaker of the opening admonition to the disciple.

### The Disciple

Responds to Christ's words, confessing blindness and sin, and accepting contempt as just.

### God the Father

Addressed as 'Thee' in the disciple's prayer and confession.

## Key lines

> My Son, make it no matter of thine, if thou see others honoured and exalted, and thyself despised and humbled. Lift up thine heart to Me in heaven, and then the contempt of men upon earth will not make thee sad.

Do not be troubled when you see others praised while you are looked down on. Focus your heart on Me in heaven, and earthly scorn will not disturb you.

_Christ instructs the disciple to disregard social status and find peace in heavenly focus._

> If I look rightly within myself, never was injury done unto me by any creature, and therefore I have nought whereof to complain before Thee.

When I honestly examine myself, I see that no creature has ever wronged me, so I have no reason to complain to You.

_The disciple acknowledges that all perceived injuries are just, due to his own sins._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_imitation_of_christ_se/chapters/xli
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_imitation_of_christ_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_imitation_of_christ_se/chapters