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

Edwin Percy Whipple

The laughter which it creates is impish and devilish, the very mirth of fiends, and its wit the gleam and glare of infernal light.

Books | Invention | Power | Rule |

Kautilya, aka Chanakya or Vishnu Gupta NULL

Purity of speech, of the mind, of the senses, and of a compassionate heart are needed by one who desires to rise to the divine platform.

Books | Knowledge | Need | Wealth |

Ban Zhao, courtesy name Huiban

Now For self-culture nothing equals respect for others. To counteract firmness nothing equals compliance. Consequently it can be said that the Way of respect and acquiescence is woman's most important principle of conduct. So respect may be defined as nothing other than holding on to that which is permanent; and acquiescence nothing other than being liberal and generous. Those who are steadfast in devotion know that they should stay in their proper places; those who are liberal and generous esteem others, and honor and serve chem.

Age | Authority | Books | Boys | Children | Conduct | Education | Men | Present | Relationship | Rites | Rule | Study | Teach | Understand |

Eleanor Brown, fully Nora Eleanor Louisa Hervey Brown

She remembered one of her boyfriends asking, offhandedly, how many books she read in a year. A few hundred, she said. How do you have the time? he asked, gobsmacked. She narrowed her eyes and considered the array of potential answers in front of her. Because I don't spend hours flipping through cable complaining there's nothing on? Because my entire Sunday is not eaten up with pre-game, in-game, and post-game talking heads? Because I do not spend every night drinking overpriced beer and engaging in dick-swinging contests with the other financirati? Because when I am waiting in line, at the gym, on the train, eating lunch, I am not complaining about the wait/staring into space/admiring myself in reflective surfaces? I am reading! I don't know, she said, shrugging.

Books | Personality | Will | Think |

Eleazar ha-Kappar, alternate spelling Eliezer ha-Kappar

Great is peace, for all blessings conclude with peace.

Health |

Elias Canetti

There is no doubt: the study of man is just beginning, at the same time that his end is in sight.

Beginning | Books | Little | Reading | Time |

Elif Safak

When you see a hand from afar, Kimya, can you do that there is only one school. But you dive into the water, you realize that there is more than a river. The river is hidden inside various currents and they all run in harmony, yet are completely separate from one another.

Belief | Books | Destroy | Force | God | Good | Insanity | Knowledge | Life | Life | Man | Need | People | Philosophy | Religion | Taste | Time | Words | God | Understand |

Elif Safak

What is the point of Roaming the world When it's the Same Everywhere misery?

Books | Love | People | Selfishness |

William Shakespeare

SIR TOBY BELCH: Dost think because thou art virtuous there shall be no more cakes and ale?

Life | Life | Think |

Elizabeth Gilbert

I guess what I want to learn is how to live in this world and enjoy its delights but also devote myself to God.

Elizabeth Gilbert

Given that life is so short, do I really want to spend one-ninetieth of my remaining days on earth reading Edward Gibbon?

Cause | Happy | Observation | Quiet | Statistics | Work | World |

Elizabeth Gilbert

Do I really deserve this pleasure? This is American, too-the insecurity about whether we have earned our happiness.

Belief | Books | Care | Decision | Diligence | Divinity | Faith | Reason | Religion | Universe | Will |

Elizabeth Gilbert

Offer it up personally, then. Right now. I thought of how many people go to their graves unforgiven and unforgiving. I thought of how many people have had siblings or friends or children or lovers disappear from their lives before precious words of clemency or absolution could be passed along. How do the survivors of terminated relationships ever endure the pain of unfinished business? From that place of meditation, I found the answer-you can finish the business yourself, from within yourself. It's not only possible, it's essential.

Work |

Elizabeth Gilbert

Prayer is a relationship; half the job is mine. If I want transformation, but can't even be bothered to articulate what, exactly, I'm aiming for, how will it ever occur? Half the benefit of prayer is in the asking itself, in the offering of a clearly posed and well-considered intention. If you don't have this, all your pleas and desires are boneless, floppy, inert; they swirl at your feet in a cold fog and never lift.

Rest |

Elizabeth Gilbert

I met an old lady once, almost a hundred years old, and she told me, 'There are only two questions that human beings have ever fought over, all through history. How much do you love me? And Who's in charge?

Love | Relationship | Tears | Crisis |

Elizabeth Gilbert

It's easy enough to pray when you're in distress but continuing to pray even when your crisis has passed is like a sealing process, helping your soul hold tight to its good attainment.

Day | Health | Important | Will |

Elizabeth Gilbert

So that's it. You have now reached infatuation's fial destination - the complete and merciless devaluation of self.

Love | Relationship | Tears | Crisis |

Elizabeth Gilbert

Richard didn't even have time to ask if I thought I'd ever amount to anything in this life before I looked him eye to eye and said, I already have, mister.

Apathy | Attention | Care | Day | Health | Mindfulness | Soul |

Elizabeth Gilbert

The little fishing boat anchors right off the shore of Gili Meno. There are no docks here on this island. You have to roll up your pants, jump off the boat and wade in through the surf on your own power. There's absolutely no way to do this without getting soaking wet or even banged up on the coral, but it's worth all the trouble because the beach here is so beautiful, so special.

Talking |

Elizabeth Browning, fully Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Measure not the work until the day's out and the labour done, then bring your gauges.

Books | Man |