Today a man is here. Tomorrow he is gone.
Thomas à Kempis, The Imitation of Christ 1.23.1
Hodie homo est, et cras non comparet.
Today a man is here. Tomorrow he is gone.
Thomas à Kempis, The Imitation of Christ 1.23.1
What it means
From the chapter on meditating on death. Life is short and out of sight soon means out of mind. Live today as if it matters, because it is all you are sure of.
The source
"Today a man is here. Tomorrow he is gone." Thomas à Kempis said it in The Imitation of Christ 1.23.1. Translated by William Benham, 1874.
"To-day man is, and to-morrow he will be seen no more."William Benham, 1874, The Imitation of Christ 1.23.1. Text read at gutenberg.org.
Who said it
Thomas à Kempis (c. 1380–1471). Augustinian canon in the Netherlands, generally credited with The Imitation of Christ, one of the most widely read Christian books ever written.
Questions
- What does "Today a man is here. Tomorrow he is gone." mean?
- From the chapter on meditating on death. Life is short and out of sight soon means out of mind. Live today as if it matters, because it is all you are sure of.
- Who said "Today a man is here. Tomorrow he is gone."?
- Thomas à Kempis (c. 1380–1471). Source: The Imitation of Christ 1.23.1.
- What is the original wording?
- To-day man is, and to-morrow he will be seen no more (William Benham, 1874). Translated by William Benham, 1874.
- Is "Today a man is here. Tomorrow he is gone." on a shirt?
- Yes. We print it to order on our tees in 7 illustrated looks, from $44, with free US shipping.
Cite this line
"Today a man is here. Tomorrow he is gone." (Thomas à Kempis, The Imitation of Christ 1.23.1, trans. William Benham, 1874). https://spartansurfers.com/quotes/today-a-man-is-here-tomorrow-he-is
Filed under Quotes about time.
Wear it your way
The same line in every look it fits. Each one is printed to order on heavy cotton, same price.
More from Thomas à Kempis
- How quickly the glory of the world passes.The Imitation of Christ 1.3.6
- Love to be unknown.The Imitation of Christ 1.2.3
- Man proposes, but God disposes.The Imitation of Christ 1.19.2
- Renew your purpose every day, as if today were the first.The Imitation of Christ 1.19.1
- Root out one fault a year and you will soon be whole.The Imitation of Christ 1.11.5
- Hard times do not make a person weak. They show what he is.The Imitation of Christ 1.16.4