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 Ellery Channing

Understand your antagonist before you answer him... Discussion, even if story, often winnows truth from error - a good never to be expected in an uninquiring age.

Age | Discussion | Error | Good | Story | Truth | Wisdom |

Erwin Dain Canham

We must make the truth as simple, as persuasive, as impelling, and as interesting as the lie often seems to be. The truth can never enslave, it can never mesmerize. The truth is always within us.

Truth | Wisdom |

William Ellery Channing

In the long run, truth is aided by nothing so much as by opposition.

Nothing | Opposition | Truth | Wisdom |

Lucile Cypreansen

The child's entire life is influenced by his ability to listen. Good listening habits make it possible for him to broaden his knowledge, enjoy music, conversation, storytelling, drama; discriminating listening makes it possible for him to select radio and television programs for enjoyment. Critical listening helps him function intelligently in selection of governmental leaders. It is quite possible that the ability to listen effectively may be one of the most valuable tools he can use in his efforts to bring understanding and peace to the world.

Ability | Conversation | Enjoyment | Good | Knowledge | Life | Life | Listening | Music | Peace | Television | Understanding | Wisdom | World |

Calvin Coolidge, fully John Calvin Coolidge, Jr.

No nation ever had an army large enough to guarantee it against attack in time of peace or insure it victory in time of war.

Enough | Guarantee | Peace | Time | War | Wisdom |

Howard Crosby

A wisely chosen illustration is almost essential to fasten the truth upon the ordinary mind, and no teacher can afford to neglect this part of his preparation.

Mind | Neglect | Truth | Wisdom | Teacher |

Clarence Shepard Day, Jr.

As time goes on, new and remoter aspects of truth are discovered, which can seldom or never be fitted into creeds that are changeless.

Time | Truth | Wisdom |

Joseph Conrad, born Teodor Josef Konrad Korzeniowski

I can't tell if a straw ever saved a drowning man, but I know that a mere glance is enough to make despair pause. For in truth we who are creatures of impulse are creatures of despair.

Despair | Enough | Impulse | Man | Truth | Wisdom |

William Cowper

Diff'ring judgments serve but to declare that Truth lies somewhere, if we knew but where.

Truth | Wisdom |

Joseph Cook

A natural law is a process, not a power: it is a method of operation, not an operator. A natural law, without God behind it, is no more than a glove without a hand in it.

God | Law | Method | Power | Wisdom | God |

John Dewey

The only way to abolish war (is) to make peace heroic.

Peace | War | Wisdom |

Donald Davidson

Beliefs, desires, and intentions are a condition of language, but language is also a condition for them. On the other hand, being able to attribute beliefs and desires to a creature is certainly a condition of sharing a convention with that creature; while, if I am right... convention is not a condition of language. I suggest, then, that philosopher who make convention a necessary element in language have the matter backwards. The truth is rather that language is a condition for having conventions.

Convention | Language | Right | Truth | Wisdom |

William Congreve

Guilt is ever at a loss, and confusion waits upon it; when innocence and bold truth are always ready for expression.

Guilt | Innocence | Truth | Wisdom |

William Cowper

All truth is precious, if not all divine; and what dilates the powers must needs refine.

Truth | Wisdom |

William Cowper

He is the freeman whom the truth makes free, and all are slaves beside.

Truth | Wisdom |