Thomas A Kempis 1.20 (Part I) - Loving solitude and silence

Loving solitude and silence

Find that free time for your meditation, and frequently think of God's goodness to you. Let go of the curiosity questions; prefer to ponder what strengthens you against evil, rather than what occupies your mind. If you withdraw from excess talk and idle gatherings, and from listening to news and rumors, you will find plenty of time suitable for good meditation. The greatest saints used to avoid the company of men when they could, choosing to live in secret before God.

As someone has said, “Whenever I have gone out among men, I have come back a lesser man.” This is typical when we have spent long in conversation. It is easier to be silent than to speak without being excessive or transgressive. It is easier to keep yourself at home than keep a close watch on yourself when you're out. Someone who tends toward the inner life, which is spiritual, must go with Jesus “apart from the multitude.” No one safely goes out in company except the one who loves the peace of home. No one safely talks except the one who loves to hold his peace. No one safely rules except the one who loves to serve. No one safely commands except the one who has learned to obey. No one safely rejoices except the one who has the testimony of a good conscience within himself. 

The boldness of the Saints was always full of the fear of God. They were not less watchful of themselves or less humble because they shone forth with great virtues and grace. But the boldness of the wicked comes from pride and arrogance, and in the end it turns to hopelessness. Never promise yourself security in this life, no matter how good you may appear in the religious life. 

Often those who have better esteem among men are at greater risk spiritually because of their over-confidence. So it's much more useful that they are not entirely free from temptation and even suffer some reproach, or they may grow over-confident, or be lifted up into arrogance, or comfort themselves too much with externals. Now, a man who never chased a passing pleasure, who never became preoccupied with the world, how good a conscience would that man keep! If someone would whole-heartedly reject all futile anxiety, and focus fully on the healthful and the holy, and build his whole hope upon God, how great peace and rest that man would possess!

Imitation of Christ by Thomas A Kempis, 1.20 (first part, it's a long chapter to translate in one sitting). 

Translation focused on contemporary English and preservation of rhetorical force and art