Great Throughts Treasury

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

Oprah Winfrey, born Oprah Gail Winfrey

American Television Host, Movie Actress, Television Producer, Founder of O Magazine and Harpo Production Studios and Philanthropist

"Every single one of us has the power for greatness, because greatness is determined by service – to yourself and to others."

"Everyone wants to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down."

"We’re here - to learn to love in spite of the human condition, to transcend the human condition of being fearful. We get so bogged down in worldly things we don’t understand that we’re here for a spiritual quest. Understanding that this journey is the most exciting part of being human has revolutionized my life."

"Don’t complain about what you don’t have. Use what you’ve got. To do less than your best is a sin. Every single one of us has the power for greatness, because greatness is determined by service – to yourself and to others."

"Real integrity is doing the right thing, knowing that nobody's going to know whether you did it or not."

"My philosophy is that not only are you responsible for your life but doing the best at this moment puts you in the best place for the next moment."

"Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough"

"Understand that the right to choose your own path is a sacred privilege. Use it. Dwell in possibility."

"Don’t back down just to keep the peace. Standing up for your beliefs builds self-confidence and self-esteem."

"Turn your wounds into wisdom."

"You can have it all. Just not all at once."

"I trust that everything happens for a reason, even if we are not wise enough to see it."

"True forgiveness is when you can say, "Thank you for that experience."

"The biggest adventure you can ever take is to live the life of your dreams."

"If the only prayer you said was thank you, that would be enough."

"Breathe. Let go. And remind yourself that this very moment is the only one you know you have for sure."

"The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate."

"Surround yourself only with people who are going to take you higher."

"You get in life what you have the courage to ask for."

"One if the hardest things in life to learn are which bridges to cross and which bridges to burn."

"I've come to believe that each of us has a personal calling that's as unique as a fingerprint - and that the best way to succeed is to discover what you love and then find a way to offer it to others in the form of service, working hard, and also allowing the energy of the universe to lead you. "

"If a man wants you, nothing can keep him away. If he doesn't want you, nothing can make him stay"

"Every day brings a chance for you to draw in a breath, kick off your shoes, and dance."

"Your true passion should feel like breathing; it’s that natural."

"You don't become what you want, you become what you believe."

"You get to know who you really are in a crisis."

"If friends disappoint you over and over, that's in large part your own fault. Once someone has shown a tendency to be self-centered, you need to recognize that and take care of yourself; people aren't going to change simply because you want them to."

"Challenges are gifts that force us to search for a new center of gravity. Don't fight them. Just find a new way to stand."

"When you undervalue what you do, the world will undervalue who you are."

"Step Away from the Mean Girls… …and say bye-bye to feeling bad about your looks. Are you ready to stop colluding with a culture that makes so many of us feel physically inadequate? Say goodbye to your inner critic, and take this pledge to be kinder to yourself and others. This is a call to arms. A call to be gentle, to be forgiving, to be generous with yourself. The next time you look into the mirror, try to let go of the story line that says you're too fat or too sallow, too ashy or too old, your eyes are too small or your nose too big; just look into the mirror and see your face. When the criticism drops away, what you will see then is just you, without judgment, and that is the first step toward transforming your experience of the world."

"Think like a queen. A queen if not afraid to fail. Failure is another stepping stone to greatness."

"I believe that every single event in life happens is an opportunity to choose love over fear."

"Self-esteem comes from being able to define the world in your own terms and refusing to abide by the judgments of others."

"As you become more clear about who you really are, you'll be better able to decide what is best for you - the first time around."

"We can't become what we need to be by remaining what we are."

"The whole point of being alive is to evolve into the complete person you were intended to be."

"Do the one thing you think you cannot do. Fail at it. Try again. Do better the second time. The only people who never tumble are those who never mount the high wire."

"It makes no difference how many peaks you reach if there was no pleasure in the climb."

"The best thing about dreams is that fleeting moment, when you are between asleep and awake, when you don't know the difference between reality and fantasy, when for just that one moment you feel with your entire soul that the dream is reality, and it really happened."

"Meditate. Breathe consciously. Listen. Pay attention. Treasure every moment. Make the connection."

"Only make decisions that support your self-image, self-esteem, and self-worth."

"I know for sure that what we dwell on is who we become."

"Doing the best at this moment puts you in the best place for the mext moment."

"You are responsible for your life. You can't keep blaming somebody else for your dysfunction. Life is really about moving on."

"If you want your life to be more rewarding, you have to change the way you think."

"I believe the choice to be excellent begins with aligning your thoughts and words with the intention to require more from yourself."

"In the mist of Difficulty lies Opportunity."

"To love yourself is a never-ending journey."

"The big secret in life is there is no secret. Whatever your goal. You can get there if you're willing to work."

"You aren't your past, you are probability of your future."