The Imitation of Christ · Theme

Contempt for the World

How The Imitation of Christ develops Contempt for the World.

The book repeatedly urges the reader to despise worldly vanities, honors, riches, and pleasures, viewing them as fleeting distractions that hinder the soul's union with God and the pursuit of eternal life.

Where it surfaces

The Imitation of Christ
The chapter condemns worldly vanities and honors as fleeting and vain, directing the soul toward eternal realities.
Book I: Admonitions Profitable for the Spiritual Life
Strong emphasis on the fleeting and deceptive nature of worldly honors and knowledge.
Of the Imitation of Christ, and of Contempt of the World and All Its Vanities
Strongly present in the denunciation of worldly vanities—riches, honors, fleshly desires—as fleeting and destructive.
Of Thinking Humbly of Oneself
Warns against the distraction and deceit of worldly knowledge, urging focus on the soul's health.
Of the Knowledge of Truth
The fleeting glory of the world is lamented, and the disciple is urged to count all earthly things as dung to win Christ.
Of Inordinate Affections
The chapter contrasts the restlessness of the proud and avaricious with the peace of the poor and lowly of heart, urging withdrawal from earthly desires.
Of fleeing from vain hope and pride
The chapter warns against trusting in men, riches, friends, strength, or learning, all of which are vain and fleeting.
Of the danger of too much familiarity
The chapter advises against seeking the society of the rich and great, and instead recommends the company of the humble and devout, reflecting a disdain for worldly status.
Of the danger of superfluity of words
The chapter discourages worldly talk and the tumult of men, viewing them as hindrances to spiritual progress.
Of seeking peace of mind, and of spiritual progress
Mortifying worldly desires and clinging wholly to God is presented as the path to perfection.
Of the Uses of Adversity
Adversity teaches that one is a stranger and sojourner, not to trust in worldly things.
Of a religious life
The chapter calls the religious to hold themselves as exiles and pilgrims on earth, seeking only God and the soul's health.
Of the Example of the Holy Fathers
The holy fathers renounced all riches, dignities, and worldly ties, desiring nothing from the world and living as strangers to it.
Of the Love of Solitude and Silence
The chapter repeatedly warns against worldly distractions, vain conversation, and carnal joys, urging the disciple to leave vain things to vain men.
Of Compunction of Heart
The chapter teaches that perfect compunction makes the whole world burdensome and bitter, urging detachment from worldly comforts.
On the Contemplation of Human Misery
The chapter explicitly contrasts worldly prosperity with heavenly goods, calling temporal things 'nothing' and 'utterly uncertain.'
Of meditation upon death
The chapter repeatedly urges contempt for earthly things and a pilgrim mindset, emphasizing that the world is fleeting and not our true home.
XXIV Of the Judgment and Punishment of the Wicked
The chapter declares all earthly honors and pleasures as vanity, urging the reader to despise worldly delights in favor of loving and serving God alone.
Book II: Admonitions Concerning the Inner Life
A central theme is the rejection of worldly honors, pleasures, and vanities in favor of eternal truths.
Of the Inward Life
Strongly urges forsaking the miserable world, despising outward things, and recognizing the fleeting nature of earthly life.
Of Self-Esteem
The chapter urges the reader to regard all worldly things as vain and to value only God.
Of the Joy of a Good Conscience
The text contrasts temporal glory with eternal glory, teaching that worldly praise and reproach are insignificant compared to a pure conscience before God.
Of loving Jesus above all things
The chapter warns against trusting in created things and men, calling them 'reed shaken with the wind' and 'grass.'
Book III: On Inward Consolation
The text encourages a turning away from worldly pleasures and honors to find peace in God alone.
Of the Inward Voice of Christ to the Faithful Soul
Temporal things are deceits; the soul must put away transitory things and seek eternal ones.
How all the words of God are to be heard with humility, and how many consider them not
The world's promises are described as temporal and small, served with great eagerness, while eternal things are neglected, calling for shame at such misplaced devotion.
Chapter X: That it is sweet to despise the world and to serve God
The opening line declares it sweet to despise the world, and the chapter extols renouncing worldly affairs for God's service.
Of the inward growth of patience, and of the struggle against evil desires
Worldly pleasures are described as short, false, and wicked, leading to death of the soul; the disciple is urged to despise them and seek delight in God alone.
XVI
The chapter explicitly contrasts fleeting worldly solaces with eternal heavenly goods, urging the soul to despise temporal comforts.
Of Confession of Our Infirmity and of the Miseries of This Life
The chapter vividly describes the miseries and deceitfulness of the world, urging hatred of worldly desires and a turning toward God.
XXI
The chapter dismisses all worldly goods and honors as insufficient compared to God.
Of the exaltation of a free spirit, which humble prayer more deserveth than doth frequent reading
The narrator prays to be preserved from the cares of this life and asks that fleshly consolation be turned into bitterness, emphasizing disdain for worldly attachments.
XXVII
The chapter explicitly teaches despising money, riches, honor, and vain praise as things that pass away with the world.
Against the Tongues of Detractors
The disciple is taught to disregard human praise or blame, seeking true peace only in God.
Of Seeking Divine Help, and the Confidence of Obtaining Grace
The disciple is warned against seeking comfort in outward things and is called to turn away from worldly joys and honors.
Of the neglect of every creature, that the Creator may be found
The chapter urges neglect of every creature and counts all that is not God as nothing.
Of Self-Denial, and the Casting Away All Selfishness
The text contrasts earthly wisdom and pleasures with heavenly wisdom, urging the disciple to despise base things and seek what is eternal.
That to him who loveth God is sweet above all things and in all things
Contrasts the vanity of worldly wisdom and fleshly enjoyment with the true wisdom found in despising the world.
XXXV
The disciple is warned not to seek rest or peace in earthly things but only in God, and to bear all adversities for love of Him.
Against Vain Judgments of Men
The chapter encourages disregard for human judgments and opinions, emphasizing the fleeting nature of human life and the ultimate authority of God.
Of pure and entire resignation of self, for the obtaining liberty of heart
The chapter urges the disciple to be 'naked in all things' and free from every will of his own, renouncing all worldly attachments.
Of a good government in external things, and of having recourse to God in dangers
The disciple is called to stand above temporal things, not cleaving to them but using them for good service as ordained by God.
XXXIX
The chapter advises against being immersed in business and worldly desires, urging the disciple to commit all to God and resist self.
That Man Hath No Good in Himself, and Nothing Whereof to Glory
Human glory and temporal honor are dismissed as vanity and folly compared to God's eternal glory.
Of Contempt of All Temporal Honour
The chapter explicitly teaches contempt for temporal honor and acceptance of worldly humiliation.
XLII
The chapter urges detachment from human friendships and earthly solace to draw nearer to God.
Against Vain and Worldly Knowledge
Christ teaches to despise earthly things, loathe present things, and flee honors.
Of not troubling ourselves about outward things
The chapter urges the disciple to consider himself dead to the world and to pass by outward things with deaf ear.
XLV
The chapter expresses distrust in human faithfulness and the vanity of hoping in men, directing hope solely toward God.
Of having confidence in God when evil words are cast at us
The disciple is urged to disregard human praise and reproach, recognizing the vanity of worldly judgment.
That all troubles are to be endured for the sake of eternal life
The text contrasts the fleeting, sorrowful nature of earthly life with the eternal peace of heaven, encouraging disdain for worldly comforts and honors.
Of the Day of Eternity and of the Straitnesses of This Life
The chapter vividly describes earthly life as 'few and evil, full of sorrows and straits,' and the narrator longs to be delivered from all worldly things.
Of the desire after eternal life, and how great blessings are promised to those who strive.
The chapter contrasts earthly trials and self-denial with the eternal joy of heaven, urging the disciple to despise temporal comforts.
How a desolate man ought to commit himself into the hands of God
The soul rejects worldly praise and esteem, recognizing that only God's judgment matters.
LIII
The chapter explicitly calls for counting the whole world as nought and separating from earthly consolations to receive grace.
Of the diverse motions of Nature and of Grace
Nature cleaves to temporal things and earthly lucre, while Grace reaches after things eternal and flees from the world.
Of the corruption of Nature and the efficacy of Divine Grace
The chapter emphasizes the corruption of nature and the worthlessness of worldly gifts (arts, riches, beauty, strength, wit, eloquence) without grace.
LVI
The disciple is urged to despise the world and its honors in order to be exalted in heaven.
LVIII: Of Deeper Matters, and God's Hidden Judgments Which Are Not to Be Inquired Into
The chapter warns against worldly curiosity and disputation, urging the reader to focus on the low gate of the Kingdom and to despise the consolations of the rich.