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

Jean Baptiste Lacordaire, fully Jean Baptiste Henri Lacordaire

After speech, silence is the greatest power in the world.

Power | Silence | Speech | World |

Joseph Addison

A friendship that makes the least noise is very often the most useful; for which reason I should prefer a prudent friend to a zealous one.

Friend | Noise | Reason | Friendship |

John Woolman

In true silence strength is renewed, and the mind is weaned from all things, save as they may be enjoyed in the Divine will; and a lowliness in outward living, opposite to worldly honour, becomes truly acceptable to us.

Mind | Silence | Strength | Will |

Kahlil Gibran

I have learned silence from the talkative, toleration from the intolerant, and kindness from the unkind; yet strange, I am ungrateful to these teachers.

Kindness | Silence | Toleration |

Kahlil Gibran

There is something greater and purer than what the mouth utters. Silence illuminates our souls, whispers to our hearts, and brings them together. Silence separates us from ourselves, makes us sail the firmament of spirit, and brings us closer to Heaven; it makes us feel that bodies are no more than prisons and that this world is only a place of exile.

Heaven | Silence | Spirit | World |

Kahlil Gibran

I abstain from the people who consider insolence bravery and tenderness cowardice. And I abstain from those who consider chatter wisdom and silence ignorance.

Bravery | Cowardice | Ignorance | People | Silence | Tenderness | Wisdom |

Kahlil Gibran

Great truth that transcends Nature does not pass from one being to another by way of human speech. Truth chooses Silence to convey her meaning to loving souls.

Meaning | Nature | Silence | Speech | Truth |

Kahlil Gibran

Silence illuminates our souls, whispers to our hearts, and brings them together. Silence separates us from ourselves, makes us sail the firmament of spirit, and brings us closer to Heaven; it makes us feel that bodies are no more than prisons and that this world is only a place of exile.

Heaven | Silence | Spirit | World |

Latin Proverbs

The silence of a stupid man looks like wisdom.

Looks | Man | Silence | Wisdom |

Meister Eckhart, formally Meister von Hochheim

The soul that would experience this birth must detach herself from all outward things: within herself completely at one with herself... You must have an exalted mind an a burning heart in which, nevertheless, reign silence and stillness.

Birth | Experience | Heart | Mind | Silence | Soul |

Mother Teresa, born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu NULL

The fruit of silence is prayer. The fruit of prayer is faith. The fruit of faith is love. The fruit of love is service. The fruit of service is peace.

Faith | Love | Peace | Prayer | Service | Silence |

Napoleon Bonaparte, Napoleon I

Ten persons who speak make more noise than ten thousand who are silent.

Noise |

Phyllis McGinley

Sticks and stones are hard on bones, aimed with angry art, words can sting like anything. But silence breaks the heart.

Art | Heart | Silence | Words |

Pindar NULL

Not every truth is the better for showing its face undisguised; and often silence is the wisest thing for a man to heed.

Better | Man | Silence | Truth |

Pindar NULL

Full oft is silence the wisest thing for a man to heed.

Man | Silence |

Rachel Naomi Remen

The most basic and powerful way to connect to another person is to listen. Just listen. Perhaps the most important thing we ever give each other is our attention…. A loving silence often has far more power to heal and to connect than the most well-intentioned words.

Attention | Important | Power | Silence | Words |