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

J. B. Priestly, fully John Boynton Priestly

I know only two words of American slang, 'swell' and 'lousy'. I think 'swell' is lousy, but 'lousy' is swell.

Imagination | Knowledge | Light | Technology | Thinking |

J. R. R. Tolkien, fully John Ronald Reuel Tolkien

A pathetic and shadowy medley of half-remembered traditions and mutilated beliefs. ~On the Church of England

Absurd | Life | Life | Think |

J. R. R. Tolkien, fully John Ronald Reuel Tolkien

But to Sam the evening deepened to darkness as he stood at the Haven; and as he looked at the grey sea he saw only a shadow in the waters that was soon lost in the West. There he stood far into the night, hearing only the sigh and murmur of the waves on the shores of Middle-Earth, and the sound of them sank deep into his heart.

Technology | Vision | Will |

J. R. R. Tolkien, fully John Ronald Reuel Tolkien

Gandalf did not move. And in that very moment, away behind in some courtyard of the City, a cock crowed. Shrill and clear he crowed, recking nothing of wizardry or war, welcoming only the morning that in the sky far above the shadows of death was coming with the dawn.

Age | Technology | Will |

J. R. R. Tolkien, fully John Ronald Reuel Tolkien

GOLLUM: Shut up! BILBO: I didn't say anything... GOLLUM: I wasn't talking to you.

Technology |

J. R. R. Tolkien, fully John Ronald Reuel Tolkien

He did not go much further, but sat down on the cold floor and gave himself up to complete miserableness, for a long while. He thought of himself frying bacon and eggs in his own kitchen at home - for he could feel inside that it was high time for some meal or other; but that only made him miserabler.

Technology | Value |

J. R. R. Tolkien, fully John Ronald Reuel Tolkien

Far, far below the deepest delvings of the dwarves, the world is gnawed by nameless things.

Life | Life | Technology | Wants |

J. R. R. Tolkien, fully John Ronald Reuel Tolkien

Even the smallest person can change the course of the future.

Technology |