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

Gustave Flaubert

She only cared for the sea when it was lashed to fury by the storm and for verdure when it served as a background to a ruin. Everything must needs minister to her personal longings, as it were, and she thrust aside as of no account whatever everything that did not immediately contribute to stir the emotions of her heart, for her temperament was sentimental rather than artistic, seeking, not pictures, but emotions.

Man |

Gustave Flaubert

She did not believe that things could remain the same in different places, and since the portion of her life that lay behind her had been bad, no doubt that which remained to be lived would be better.

Man |

Gustave Flaubert

My novel is the rock to which I cling and I know nothing of what is taking place in the world.

Need |

Gustave Flaubert

The hours go by without my knowing it. Sitting there I'm wandering in countries I can see every detail of--I'm playing a role in the story I'm reading. I actually feel I'm the characters--I live and breathe them.

Day | Good | Man |

H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

When you have nothing important or interesting to say, don't let anyone persuade you to say it.

Man |

H. L. Mencken, fully Henry Louis Mencken

Eugenics is the theory that charm in a woman is the same as charmed in a prize-fighter.

Need |

H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

It is my observation that too many of us are spending money we haven't earned to buy things we don't need to impress people we don't like.

Man |

H. L. Mencken, fully Henry Louis Mencken

Every failure teaches a man something, to wit, that he will probably fail again next time.

Fear | Need |

H. L. Mencken, fully Henry Louis Mencken

A fool who, after plain warning, persists in dosing himself with dangerous drugs should be free to do so, for his death is a benefit to the race in general.

Earth | Heart | Life | Life | Man | Smile | Will | Worth |

H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Follow the three R's: - Respect for self. - Respect for others. - Responsibility for all your actions. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck. Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly.

Man | Money | Wise |

H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

The 3 most powerful resources you have available to you: love, prayer and forgiveness.

Man |

H. L. Mencken, fully Henry Louis Mencken

Every contribution to human progress on record has been made by some individual who differed sharply from the general, and was thus, almost, superior to the general. Perhaps the palpably insane must be excepted here, but I can think of no others. Such exceptional individuals should be permitted, it seems to me, to enjoy every advantage that goes with their superiority... The rest are as negligible as the race of cockroaches, who have gone unchanged for a million years.

Man | Wise |

Gustave Flaubert

Why was it? Who drove you to it?' She replied, 'It had to be, my dear!' 'Weren't you happy? Is it my fault? I did all I could!' 'Yes, that is true ? you are good ? you.

Need | Trust |

Gustavo Dudamel and the Teresa CarreƱo Youth Orchestra

Recently, I went to a disco with friends, and all the young people were saying, 'Dudamel, we want to go to your concert, but it's impossible because it's sold out.' It's really amazing.

Need |

H. L. Mencken, fully Henry Louis Mencken

College football would be much more interesting if the faculty played instead of the students, and even more interesting if the trustees played. There would be a great increase in broken arms, legs, and necks, and simultaneously an appreciable diminution in the loss of humanity.

Man | Mind |

H. L. Mencken, fully Henry Louis Mencken

Firmness in decision is often merely a form of stupidity. It indicates an inability to think the same thing out twice.

Man |

H. L. Mencken, fully Henry Louis Mencken

I believe that all government is evil, and that trying to improve it is largely a waste of time.

Need | Play | Safe |

H. L. Mencken, fully Henry Louis Mencken

Laws are no longer made by a rational process of public discussion; they are made by a process of blackmail and intimidation, and they are executed in the same manner.

Man |

H. L. Mencken, fully Henry Louis Mencken

The central belief of every moron is that he is the victim of a mysterious conspiracy against his common rights and true deserts.

Man |

H. L. Mencken, fully Henry Louis Mencken

The seasick passenger on an ocean liner detests the good sailor who stalks past him 265 times a day grandly smoking a large, greasy cigar. In precisely the same way the democrat hates the man who is having a better time in the world. This is the origin of democracy. It is also the origin of Puritanism.

Man | Wise |