Great Throughts Treasury

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

Viktor Frankl, fully Viktor Emil Frankl

Austrian Neurologist and Psychiatrist, Author, Holocaust Survivor, Founder of Logotherapy

"Woe to him who saw no more sense in his life, no aim, no purpose, and therefore no point in carrying on."

"When we are no longer able to change a situation -- we are challenged to change ourselves."

"You may of course ask whether we really need to refer to saints. Wouldn't it suffice just to refer to decent people? It is true that they form a minority. More than that, they always will remain a minority. And yet I see therein the very challenge to join the minority. For the world is in a bad state, but everything will become still worse unless each of us does his best."

"You would say that our patients never really despair because of any suffering in itself! Instead, their despair stems in each instance from a doubt as to whether suffering is meaningful. Man is ready and willing to shoulder any suffering as soon and as long as he can see a meaning in it."