Great Throughts Treasury

This site is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Alan William Smolowe who gave birth to the creation of this database.

Matthew Henson. fully Matthew Alexander "Matt" Henson

American Explorer, associate of Robert Peary, may have been first person to reach the Geographic North Pole

"There can be no conquest to the man who dwells in the narrow and small environment of a groveling life, and there can be no vision to the man the horizon of whose vision is limited by the bounds of self. But the great things of the world, the great accomplishments of the world, have been achieved by men who had high ideals and who have received great visions. The path is not easy, the climbing is rugged and hard, but the glory at the end is worthwhile."

"I think I'm the first man to sit on top of the world."

"It'll work, if God, wind, leads, ice, snow, and all the hells of this damned frozen land are willing."