Great Throughts Treasury

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

Related Quotes

Atharva Veda, or Atharvaveda

Thy many paths upon which people go, thy tracks for chariots and wagons to advance, upon which both good and evil men proceed, this road, free from enemies, and free from thieves, may we gain, with what is auspicious (on thee) be gracious to us.

Heart | Love |

Atharva Veda, or Atharvaveda

The hypocritical and the greedy are struck down; the Messenger of Death punishes them with his club. O camel-like mind, you are my breath of life; rid yourself of the pollution of hypocrisy and doubt.

Family | Husband | Obligation |

Upton Sinclair, fully Upton Beall Sinclair, Jr.

Consider Christmas. Could Satan in his most malignant mood have devised a worse combination of graft plus bunkum than the system whereby several hundred million people get a billion or so gifts for which they have no use, and some thousands of shop clerks die of exhaustion while selling them, and every other child in the Western world is made ill from overeating all in the name of the lowly Jesus.

Accident | Heart | Industry |

Upanishads or The Upanishads NULL

Well may he be content to live a hundred years who acts without attachment who works his work with earnestness, but without desire, not yearning for its fruits – he, and he alone. – Isha Upanishad

Death | Desire | Earth | Fulfillment | Heart | Life | Life | Mortal | Time | Will | Work |

Václav Havel

In any case, ideals are something we strive for; they are somewhere on the horizon of our efforts; they provide meaning and direction; they are not, however, static quotas that we either fulfill or do not.

Good | Heart | Lust | Right | Will |

Valmiki NULL

The tears of virtuous women (pativratas) do not fall on the ground in vain, meaning it will destroy those who caused them such anguish of heart causing tears to be shed.

Heart |

Vance Havner

A soft and sheltered Christianity, afraid to be lean and lone, unwilling to face the storms and brave the heights, will end up fat and foul in the cages of conformity.

Man |

Ursula Le Guin, fully Ursula Kroeber Le Guin

Would you really like to live in a society where you have no responsibility and no freedom, no choice, only the false option of obedience to the law, or disobedience followed by punishment? Would you really want to go live in a prison?

Heart |

Václav Havel

When a person tries to act in accordance with his conscience, when he tries to speak the truth, when he tries to behave like a citizen, even in conditions where citizenship is degraded, it won't necessarily lead anywhere, but it might. There's one thing, however, that will never lead anywhere, and that is speculating that such behavior will lead somewhere.

Ability | Good | Heart | Man | Politics | Right | Sensibility |

Václav Havel

Today's world, as we all know, is faced with multiple threats. From whichever angle I look at this menace, I always come to the conclusion that salvation can only come through a profound awakening of man to his own personal responsibility, which is at the same time a global responsibility. Thus, the only way to save our world, as I see it, lies in a democracy that recalls its ancient Greek roots: democracy based on an integral human personality personally answering for the fate of the community.

Authority | Awareness | Heart | Office | Opposition | Position | Understanding | Awareness |

Valmiki NULL

It is difficult for the children to repay the debt of what the mother and the father have done to bring them up.

Giving | Heart |

Václav Havel

The cliché organizes life; it expropriates people's identity; it becomes ruler, defense lawyer, judge, and the law.

Fear |

Valmiki NULL

The thundering of clouds which have spent all their water does not produce any rain. But the really valiant do not roar in vain; they show their valor in action also.

Destroy | Heart | Meaning | Tears | Will |

Valmiki NULL

Not getting depressed, frustrated or dejected is the basis for all prosperity and happiness. Giving up one’s life produces nothing good, to continue to live is the way to joy and happiness.

Heart | Qualities | Skill |

Vauvenargues, Luc de Clapiers, Marquis de Vauvenargues NULL

A liar is a man who does now know how to deceive, a flatterer one who only deceives fools: he who knows how to make skillful use of the truth, and understands its eloquence, can alone pride himself in cleverness.

Heart |

Vauvenargues, Luc de Clapiers, Marquis de Vauvenargues NULL

The burning ambition exile the pleasures of youth to govern alone.

Body | Heart | Mind |

Tommaso Campanella, baptized Giovanni Domenico Campanella

Man lives in a double world: according to the mind he is contained by no physical space and by no walls, but at the same time he is in heaven and on earth, in Italy, in France, in America, wherever the mind's thrust penetrates and extends by understanding, seeking, mastering. But indeed according to the body he exists not, except in only so much space as is least required, held fast in prison and in chains to the extent that he is not able to be in or to go to the place attained by his intellect and will, nor to occupy more space than defined by the shape of his body; while with the mind he occupies a thousand worlds.

Need |

Vauvenargues, Luc de Clapiers, Marquis de Vauvenargues NULL

It is proof of a narrow mind when things worthy of esteem are distinguished from things worthy of love. Great minds naturally love whatever is worthy of their esteem.

Heart | Rank | Reason |

Vauvenargues, Luc de Clapiers, Marquis de Vauvenargues NULL

There are those who are so scrupulously afraid of doing wrong that they seldom venture to do anything.

Heart | Justice | Self-interest |

Tommaso Campanella, baptized Giovanni Domenico Campanella

For joys and sorrows are their dear delight; even as a lover takes the weal and woe felt for his lady. Such is wisdom's might.

Church |