Great Throughts Treasury

This site is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Alan William Smolowe who gave birth to the creation of this database.

Frankness

"We confess our faults, in order that our frankness may repair the damage they do us in the eyes of others." -

"There is no wisdom like frankness." - Benjamin Disraeli, 1st Earl of Beaconsfield

"An absolute command of your temper, so as not to be provoked to passion, upon any account; patience, to hear frivolous, impertinent, and unreasonable applications; with address enough to refuse, without offending, or, by your manner of granting, to double the obligation; dexterity enough to conceal a truth without telling a lie; sagacity enough to read other people’s countenances; and serenity enough not to let them discover anything by your; a seeming frankness with a real reserve. There are the rudiments of a politician." - Lord Chesterfield, Philip Dormer Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield

"He had a certain frankness and generosity, qualities indeed which turn to a man's ruin, unless tempered with discretion." - Tacitus, fully Publius (or Gaius) Cornelius Tacitus NULL

"This character wherewith we sink into the grave at death is the very character wherewith we shall reappear at the resurrection." - Thomas Chalmers

"Just remaining quietly in the presence of God, listening to Him, being attentive to Him, requires a lot of courage and know-how." - Thomas Merton