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

Richard Beer-Hoffmann

The road is pre-destined, but the way we walk it, the attitude with which we bear our fate, can be of great influence over events.

Events | Fate | Influence | Wisdom |

Hal Borland, formally Harold Glen Borland

Man is wise and constantly in quest of more wisdom; but the ultimate wisdom, which deals with beginnings, remains locked in a seed. There it lies, the simplest fact of the universe and at the same time the one which calls forth faith rather than reason.

Faith | Man | Reason | Time | Universe | Wisdom | Wise |

Jean de La Bruyère

If it be true that a man is rich who wants nothing, a wise man is a very rich man.

Man | Nothing | Wants | Wisdom | Wise |

William Cullen Bryant

Much has been said of the wisdom of old age. Old age is wise, I grant, for itself, but not wise for the community. It is wise in declining new enterprises, for it has not the power nor the time to execute them; wise in shrinking from difficulty, for it has not the strength to overcome it; wise in avoiding danger, for it lacks the faculty of ready and swift action, by which dangers are parried and converted into advantages. But this is not wisdom for mankind at large, by whom new enterprises must be undertaken, dangers met, and difficulties surmounted.

Action | Age | Danger | Difficulty | Mankind | Old age | Power | Strength | Time | Wisdom | Wise | Old |

Jean de La Bruyère

Avoid law suits beyond all things; they influence your conscience, impair your health, and dissipate your property.

Conscience | Health | Influence | Law | Property | Wisdom |

Christian Nestell Bovee

It is our relation to circumstances that determines their influence over us. The same wind that carries one vessel into port may blow another off shore.

Circumstances | Influence | Wisdom |

Jean de La Bruyère

A wise man neither lets himself be governed, nor seeks to govern others; he wishes that reason should govern alone and always.

Man | Reason | Wisdom | Wise | Wishes | Govern |

Richard Cecil

A contemplative life has more the appearance of a life of piety than any other; but it is the divine plan to bring faith into activity and exercise.

Appearance | Faith | Life | Life | Piety | Plan | Wisdom |

Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury

A wise man looks upon men as he does on horses; all their comparisons of title, wealth, and place, he consider but as harness.

Looks | Man | Men | Title | Wealth | Wisdom | Wise |

Miguel de Cervantes, fully Miguel de Cervantes Saaversa

'Tis the part of a wise man to keep himself for tomorrow, and not venture all his eggs in one basket.

Man | Tomorrow | Wisdom | Wise |

Richard Francis Burton, fully Sir Richard Francis Burton

A wise man will desire no more than he may get justly, use soberly, distribute cheerfully, and leave contentedly.

Desire | Man | Will | Wisdom | Wise |

John Caldwell Calhoun

If the government should be taught that the highest wisdom of a state is a wise and masterly inactivity, an invaluable blessing will be conferred.

Government | Inactivity | Will | Wisdom | Wise | Government |

William Ellery Channing

Ideas are the mightiest influence on earth. One great thought breathed in to a man may regenerate him.

Earth | Ideas | Influence | Man | Thought | Wisdom | Thought |

Andrew Carnegie

Most of the troubles of humanity are imaginary and should be laughed out of court. It is folly to cross a bridge until you come to it, or to bid the Devil good-morning until you meet him - perfect folly. All is well until the stroke falls, and even then, nine times out of ten, it is not so bad as anticipated. A wise man is the confirmed optimist.

Devil | Folly | Good | Humanity | Man | Troubles | Wisdom | Wise |

William Cartwright

The fool inherits, but the wise must get.

Wisdom | Wise |

William Ellery Channing

The best books for a man are not always those which the wise recommend, but often those which meet the peculiar wants, the natural thirst of his mind, and therefore awaken interest and rivet thought.

Books | Man | Mind | Thought | Wants | Wisdom | Wise |