Great Throughts Treasury

"The marks of attachment, even to a fault, are an accumulation of virtues."

"The man who neither gives in charity nor enjoys his wealth, which every day increases, breathes, indeed, like the bellows of a smith, but cannot be said to live."

"The mind is lowered through association with inferiors. With equals it attains equality; and with superiors, superiority."

"The mind of a good man doth not alter, even when he is in distress; the waters of the ocean are not to be heated by a torch of straw."

"The mind of a fool is empty; and everything is empty where there is poverty."

"The natural qualities pass over all others and mount upon the head."

"The moon doth not withhold the light even from the cottage of a Chandala (outcast)."

"The peevish, the niggard, the dissatisfied, the passionate, the suspicious, and those who live upon others’ means, are forever unhappy."

"The people of the world having once been deceived, suspect deceit in truth itself."

"The ocean may have bounds."

"The regions of eternal happiness are provided for those women who love their husbands the same in a wilderness as in a city; be he a saint, or be he sinner."

"The risings and sinkings of human affairs are like those of a ball which is thrown by the hand."

"The stranger who turneth away from a house with disappointed hopes leaveth there his own offences, and departeth, taking with him all the good actions of the owner."

"The potter forms what he pleases with soft clay, so a man accomplishes his works by his own act."

"The precepts of philosophy effect not the least benefit to one confirmed in fear."

"The tree doth not withdraw its shade, even from the woodcutter."

"The tempest never rooteth up the grass, which is feeble, humble, and shooteth not up on high; but exerteth its power even to distress the lofty trees; for the great use not their might but upon the great."

"The wise man may strive to conquer, but he should never fight; because victory, it is observed, cannot be constant to both combatants."

"The wise man moveth with one foot, and standeth fast with the other. A man should not quit one place until he hath fixed upon another."

"The wise man should study the acquisition of science and riches as if he were not subject to sickness and death; but to the duties of religion he should attend as if death had seized him by the hair."

"The wise man, even destitute of riches, enjoyeth elevated and very honourable stations; whilst the wretch, endowed with wealth; acquireth the post of disgrace."

"The tree of the world hath its poisons, but beareth two fruits of exquisite flavor, the nectar of poetry and the society of noble men."

"The tempest uproots not the soft grasses that bow low on all sides; on the lofty trees it strikes hard. It is against the mighty that the mighty puts forth his prowess."

"The strength of aquatic animals is the waters; of those who dwell in towns, a castle; of foot-soldiers, their own ground; of princes, an obedient army."

"The tree which yieldeth both fruit and shade is highly to be esteemed; but if Providence, perchance, may have denied it fruit, by whom is its shade refused?"

"The virtuous man, from his justice and the affection he hath for mankind, is the dispeller of sorrow and pain."

"The virtuous delight in the virtuous; but he who is destitute of the practice of virtue delighteth not in the virtuous. The bee retireth from the forest to the lotus, whilst the frog is destitute of shelter."

"There are a thousand occasions for sorrow, and a hundred for fear that day by day assail the fool; not so the wise man."

"There exists no cure for a heart wounded with the sword of separation."

"There is no one the friend of another; there is no one the enemy of another: friends, as well as enemies, are created through our transactions."

"There is no ordinance obliging us to fight those who are stronger than ourselves. Such fighting, as it were, with an elephant, is the same as men’s fighting against rocks."

"They are not sages who do not declare men’s duty."

"Those who first study fate, and say, Fate is the only cause of fortune and misfortune, terrify themselves."

"Those who have even studied good books may still be fools."

"Those who have forsaken the killing of all; those who are helpmates to all; those who are a sanctuary to all; those men are in the way of heaven."

"Through avarice a man loses his understanding, and by his thirst for wealth he gives pain to the inhabitants of both worlds."

"Time drinketh up the essence of every great and noble action which ought to be performed, and is delayed in the execution."

"Time is trouble and the author of destruction; he seizeth even from afar."

"To a child in confinement its mother’s knee is a binding-post."

"To address a judicious remark to a thoughtless man is a mere threshing of chaff."

"To corporeal beings unthought-of troubles arise; so, in like manner, do blessings make their appearance. In this, I think Providence hath extended them farther than usual."

"To the strictly just and virtuous person everything is annexed."

"To those by whom liberality is practiced, the whole world is but as one family."

"To those who are fallen into misfortunes, what was a blessing becometh an evil."

"To whom is the mere glare of the fire a virtue?"

"Truth being weighed against a thousand Aswamedha sacrifices, was found to be of more consequence than the whole thousand offerings."

"Union (combination) is best for men, either with their own tribe or with strangers; for even a grain of rice groweth not when divided from its husk."

"Want maketh even servitude honourable."

"Wealth of every species necessarily flows to the hands of him who exerteth himself."

"What a rich man gives and what he consumes, that is his real worth."