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

H. L. Mencken, fully Henry Louis Mencken

Before a man speaks it is always safe to assume that he is a fool. After he speaks, it is seldom necessary to assume it.

Beginning | Life | Life |

H. L. Mencken, fully Henry Louis Mencken

In every unbeliever's heart there is an uneasy feeling that, after all, he may awake after death and find himself immortal. This is his punishment for his unbelief. This is the agnostic's Hell.

Gustavo Gutiérrez

The building of a just society means overcoming every obstacle to the creation of authentic peace.

Will |

Gustavo Gutiérrez

The complete encounter with the Lord will mark an end to history, but it will take place in history.

Thinking | Will |

H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

In the confrontation between the stream and the rock, the stream always wins--not through strength but by perseverance.

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

How little it takes to make life unbearable... A pebble in the shoe, a cockroach in the spaghetti, a woman's laugh.

Enemy | Friend | Will | Think |

H. L. Mencken, fully Henry Louis Mencken

I believe in the capacity of man to conquer his world, and to find out what it is made of, and how it is run.

Future | Right | Will |

Gustave Flaubert

We must laugh and cry, enjoy and suffer, in a word, vibrate to our full capacity... That's what being really human means.

Day | People | Rest | Right |

H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Life is slippery. We all need a loving hand to hold onto.

Enemy | Friend | Will | Think |

H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Watch the sunrise at least once a year, put a lot of marshmallows in your hot chocolate, lie on your back and look at the stars, never buy a coffee table you can't put your feet on, never pass up a chance to jump on a trampoline, don't overlook life's small joys while searching for the big ones.

Will |

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

The principal thing in this world is to keep one's soul aloft.

Will | Words |

Gustave Flaubert

The smooth folds of her dress concealed a tumultuous heart, and her modest lips told nothing of her torment. She was in love.

Power | Right |

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 |

Gustave Flaubert

You don't make art out of good intentions.

Fun |

Gustavo Gutiérrez

Is the Church fulfilling a purely religious role when by its silence or friendly relationships it lends legitimacy to dictatorial and oppressive government?

Children | Will |

H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Let the refining and improving of your own life keep you so busy that you have little time to criticize others.

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

In war the heroes always outnumber the soldiers ten to one.

Television | Wrong |