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

Russian Proverbs

After taking off the head one doesn't (shouldn't) bewail the hair.

Better | Sorrow |

Sa'di (or Saadi), pen name of Abū-Muḥammad Muṣliḥ al-Dīn bin Abdallāh Shīrāzī, born Muslih-uddin NULL

To give pleasure to a single heart by a single kind act is better than a thousand head-bowings in prayer.

Sorrow |

Saint John of the Cross, born Juan de Yepes Álvarez NULL

Mystical wisdom, which comes through love, need not be understood distinctly… for it is given according to the mode of faith, through which we love God without understanding Him.

Control | God | Good | Passion | Soul | God |

Saint Isaac of Nineveh, also Isaac the Syrian, Isaac of Qatar and Isaac Syrus NULL

What is the sign that a man has attained to purity of heart, and when does a man know that his heart has entered into purity? When he sees all men as good and none appears to him to be unclean and defiled, then in very truth his heart is pure. Our soul cannot yield spiritual fruit unless our heart is dead to the world. Blessed is the man who realizes his weakness, for this knowledge becomes the foundation, the root and the beginning of every boon. For as soon as a man understands and truly feels his weakness, he immediately puts a restraint on the vain pride of his soul which obscures reason, and thus he gains protection.

Fear | Heart | Love | Sin | Sorrow |

Saint Isaac of Nineveh, also Isaac the Syrian, Isaac of Qatar and Isaac Syrus NULL

A man can never learn what divine power is, while he abides in comfort and spacious living.

Body | Deeds | Heart | Mind | Sorrow | Deeds |

Saint Maximus the Confessor NULL

The person who loves God cannot help loving every man as himself, even though he is grieved by the passions of those who are not yet purified. But when they amend their lives, his delight is indescribable and knows no bounds. A soul filled with thoughts of sensual desire and hatred is unpurified. If we detect any trace of hatred in our hearts against any man whatsoever for committing any fault, we are utterly estranged from love for God, since love for God absolutely precludes us from hating any man.

Death | Eternal | Evidence | Grace | Human nature | Lord | Nature | Passion | Power | Suffering |

Saint Isaac of Nineveh, also Isaac the Syrian, Isaac of Qatar and Isaac Syrus NULL

What is so bitter and vehement as the torment of love? I mean, those who have become conscious that they have sinned against love suffer greater torment from this than from any fear of punishment. For the sorrow caused in the heart by sin against love is more poignant than any torment.

Compassion | Family | Harm | Heart | Mercy | Prayer | Receive | Sorrow | Tears |

Saint Isaac of Nineveh, also Isaac the Syrian, Isaac of Qatar and Isaac Syrus NULL

Mercy and legality in one soul is like a man who worships God and the idols in one house.

Equality | God | Good | Justice | Man | Mercy | Pity | Respect | Sorrow | Soul | Respect | God |

Saint Vincent de Paul

Even if the whole world should rise up to destroy us, nothing will happen except that God, in whom we have put our hope, will allow.

Compassion | Glory | Resignation | Sorrow |

Saint Thomas Aquinas, aka Thomas of Aquin or Aquino, Doctor Angelicus, Doctor Communis or Doctor Universalis

Three things are necessary for the salvation of man to know what he ought to believe to know what he ought to desire and to know what he ought to do.

Good | Means | Purpose | Purpose | Sorrow |

Saint John of Kronstadt, fully John Il’ich Serguiev, aka Holy Father John of the Kronstadt NULL

There is nothing impossible unto those who believe; lively and unshaken faith can accomplish great miracles in the twinkling of an eye. Besides, even without our sincere and firm faith, miracles are accomplished, such as the miracles of the sacraments; for God's Mystery is always accomplished, even though we were incredulous or unbelieving at the time of its celebration... Our wickedness shall not overpower the unspeakable goodness and mercy of God.

Enemy | God | Heart | Mind | Salvation | Sorrow | Will | God |

Salomon ibn Gabirol, aka Solomon ben Judah or Avicebron

One can compare creation to a word, which man utters with his mouth. In man’s expression of the word, its form and meaning are registered upon the hearing of the listener and in his mind. Along the same lines it is said that the exalted and holy creator expresses his word, and its meaning is registered in the substantiality of matter, and matter preserves that meaning, in other words, that created form is imprinted in matter and registered upon it.

Absence | Pleasure | Reality | Sorrow |

Samuel Daniel

Let others sing of knights and paladins in aged accents and untimely words, paint shadows, in imaginary lines.

Love | Music | Sorrow | Tears |

Sam Walton, fully Samuel Moore "Sam" Walton

I’d get down low, turn my plane up on its side, and fly right over a town. Once we had a spot picked out, we’d land, go find out who owned the property, and try to negotiate the deal right then. That’s another good reason I don’t like jets. You can’t get down low enough to really tell what’s going on, the way I could in my little planes.

Need | Passion | Learn | Think |

Sam Walton, fully Samuel Moore "Sam" Walton

If you take someone who lacks the experience and the know-how but has the real desire and the willingness to work his tail off to get the job done, he’ll make up for what he lacks. And that proved true nine times out of ten.

Day | Love | Passion | Will |

Samuel Johnson, aka Doctor Johnson

Be not too hasty to trust or admire the teachers of morality; they discourse like angels but they live like men.

Sorrow |

Sam Walton, fully Samuel Moore "Sam" Walton

If you don’t want to work weekends, you shouldn’t be in retail.

Competition | Good | Passion | Story |

Samuel Johnson, aka Doctor Johnson

Dead counselors are the most instructive, because they are heard with patience and reverence.

Passion |

Samuel Johnson, aka Doctor Johnson

Revenge is an act of passion; vengeance of justice. Injuries are revenged; crimes are avenged.

Passion | Sorrow |