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

William Ewart Gladstone

To comprehend a man's life, it is necessary to know not merely what he does, but also what he purposely leaves undone. There is a limit to the work that can be got out of a human body or a human brain, and he is a wise man who wastes no energy on pursuits for which he is not fitted; and he is still wiser who, from among the things that he can do well, chooses and resolutely follows the best.

Body | Character | Energy | Life | Life | Man | Wise | Work |

Benjamin Franklin

Whatever is begun in anger ends in shame.

Anger | Character | Ends | Shame |

Owen Feltham

Praise has different effects, according to the mind it meets with; it makes a wise man modest, but a fool more arrogant, turning his weak brain giddy.

Character | Man | Mind | Praise | Wise |

Henry Fielding

As a great part of the uneasiness of matrimony arises from mere trifles, it would be wise in every young married man to enter into an agreement with his wife, that in all disputes of this kind the party who was most convinced they were right should always surrender the victory. By which means both would be more forward to give up the cause.

Cause | Character | Man | Matrimony | Means | Right | Surrender | Trifles | Wife | Wise |

Horace, full name Quintus Horatius Flaccus NULL

As a wise man in time of peace prepares for war.

Character | Man | Peace | Time | War | Wise |

Avraham Grodzinski

There are usually no benefits from becoming angry at others. Your anger does not help you and the subject of your anger usually pays less attention to what you are saying than if you would have said it tactfully and patiently. Becoming angry merely causes harm to your health and makes you feel miserable.

Anger | Attention | Character | Harm | Health |

John Hay, fully John Milton Hay

Who would succeed in the world should be wise in the use of his pronouns. Utter the You twenty times, where you once utter the I.

Character | Wise | World |

Horace, full name Quintus Horatius Flaccus NULL

Never inquire into another man’s secret; but conceal that which is intrusted to you, though pressed both by wine and anger to reveal it.

Anger | Character | Man |

John-Roger & Peter McWilliams NULL

Guilt is anger directed at ourselves - at what we did or did not do. Resentment is anger directed at others - at what they did or did not do.

Anger | Character | Guilt | Resentment |

Anna Jameson

The only competition worthy of a wise man is with himself.

Character | Competition | Man | Wise |

William James

The art of being wise is knowing what to overlook.

Art | Character | Knowing | Wise | Art |

John-Roger & Peter McWilliams NULL

Fear is the energy to do our best in a new situation. Guilt is the energy for personal change. Unworthiness keeps us on track. Hurt feelings remind us how much we care. Anger is the energy for change. Discouragement reveals our courage.

Anger | Care | Change | Character | Courage | Energy | Fear | Feelings | Guilt |

Horace, full name Quintus Horatius Flaccus NULL

Who then is free? The wise man who can govern himself.

Character | Man | Wise | Govern |

Garrison Keillor, fully Gary Edward "Garrison" Keillor

No matter how dull, or how mean, or how wise a man is, he feels that happiness is his indisputable right.

Character | Man | Right | Wise | Happiness |

Johann Kaspar Lavater

Call him wise whose actions, words, and steps are all a clear because to a clear why.

Character | Wise | Words |