Great Throughts Treasury

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

Etty Hillesum, formally Ester "Etty" Hillesum

Jewish woman whose letters and diaries (published poshumously) kept between 1941 and 1943 describe life in Amsterdam during the German occupation

"One must marry one's feelings to one's beliefs and ideas. That is probably the only way to achieve a measure of harmony in one's life."

"Every day I shall put my papers in order and every day I shall say farewell. And the real farewell, when it comes, will only be a small outward confirmation of what has been accomplished within me from day to day."

"I do believe it is possible to create, even without ever writing a word or painting a picture, by simply molding one's inner life. And that too is a deed."

"We have to fight them daily, like fleas, those many small worries about the morrow, for they sap our energies."

"Greed probably figures in my intellectual life as well, as I attempt to absorb a massive amount of information with consequent mental indigestion."

"I think what weakens people most is fear of wasting their strength."

"One must also accept that one has 'uncreative' moments. The more honestly one can accept that, the quicker these moments will pass."

"The thinking heart of the barracksÂ…"

"We are always in search of the redeeming formula, the crystallizing thought."

"Sometimes the most important thing in a whole day is the rest we take between two deep breaths."

"Ultimately, we have just one moral duty: to reclaim large areas of peace in ourselves, more and more peace, and to reflect it towards others. And the more peace there is in us, the more peace there will be in our troubled world."