Great Throughts Treasury

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

Stephen Berrien Stanton

American Writer and Author

"The goal of life is imminent in each moment, each thought, word, act, and does not have to be sought apart from these. It consists in no specific achievement, but the start of mind in which everything is done, the quality infused into existence. The function of man is not to attain an object, but to fulfill a purpose; not to accomplish but be accomplished."

"Torn by twofold will, freighted with life-laid cares, compassed about by ill, my soul to hope yet dares. Dares to retain in right and truth and beauty its trust, ay, in defeat's despite dares because, God, It must! Life ne'er assents to death, night never quenched the sky, doubt's but a phase of faith - more than my failures, I."

"One type of man upon which civiliza- tion places its emphasis that all others should be crowded out, as it is in the animal world that one species should in self-preservation exterminate its rival species. The only escape from socio- logical manslaughter lies in so changing conditions that they shall themselves develop all men into the desired type. Until human laws are wholly amelio- rative, they must like natural laws con- tinue to be partially destructive. Only by exclusions can the status quo be maintained. In origin most privilege is self-preservation, and gen- erally serves still as a protective meas- ure. Priorities of power, possession, birthright and the like had their in- ception in and owe their retention to the interests of order. "