Great Throughts Treasury

"Be wise among the wise, but pretend to be dull among the fools."

"Those who pretend to know what they don’t, will be thought ignorant of even what they know."

"The ignorant torment themselves more than they do others."

"A help rendered in hour of need though small, is greater than the world."

"A fortress is of no use to cowards."

"Anger kills both laughter and joy; what greater foe is there than anger?"

"Agriculturists are the linchpin of the mankind since they support all others who cannot till the soil."

"As water changes its nature, from the nature of the soil in which it flows, so will the character of men resemble that of their associates."

"Avoid an act which you may repent later; if done by mistake, better not to repeat it."

"Better the arrow that missed the lion than the one that killed a rabbit."

"As the quality of water changes with the nature of the soil; so will a man's reason vary with the quality of his friends."

"Art of using alphabets and science of using numerals are the two eyes of living human beings."

"By the continuance of rain, the world is preserved in existence; it is therefore worthy to be called ambrosia."

"Defer not virtue to another day; receive her now; and at the dying hour she will be your undying friend."

"Cling to the One who clings to nothing; and so clinging, cease to cling."

"Conquer with forbearance."

"Even if your mother is seen starving avoid the actions condemned by wise men."

"Even the ignorant may appear very worthy, if they keep silent before the learned."

"Excessive or deficient food or activity causes disorders in mobility, breathing and digestion."

"Determined efforts result in prosperity; idleness will bring nothing."

"Fame is a jealous mistress and will brook no rival."

"Fools with all have nothing."

"Folded hands may conceal a dagger -- likewise a foe's tears."

"Friendship is not just a smile on the face; it is what is felt deep within a smiling heart."

"Great wealth, like a crowd at a concert, gathers and melts."

"How can kindliness rule that man who eateth other flesh to increase his own?"

"How can one, who eats the flesh of others to swell his flesh, show compassion?"

"Friendship with the wise gets better with time, as a good book gets better with age."

"I never saw Death before, and now I see that it is warring eyes in a woman's form."

"If men must beg to live, may the Creator also go wandering and perish."

"If we eat only after making sure that what has been already eaten has been digested, no medicine will be required to keep the body in good health."

"It is politics to please and hoodwink those who flatter but despise us."

"It is compassion, the most gracious of virtues, which moves the world."

"Learning is the true imperishable wealth; other things are not wealth."

"Just as the hand that strikes the ground cannot fail, so is the ruin certain of him who cherishes anger."

"Let the thoughts be always great and progressive. It will not be a loss, even if the success eludes."

"Listening is the best of all wealths; it is considered to be the foremost."

"Learn thoroughly whatever is to be learnt; then, let the conduct be worthy of his learning."

"Make foes of bowmen if you must, never of penmen."

"Let attachment to the Lord be your one attachment. That attachment will help you to free yourself from other attachments."

"Not every light is a true light; to the wise the light of truth is light itself."

"Since the evil begets evil, evil is more dreaded than fire."

"Something may not be achievable even by God or through God's help. But the effort exerted to attain that non-achievable will yield its deserving result!"

"Reasoning with a drunkard is like going under water with a torch to seek for a drowning man."

"Real kindness seeks no return; what return can the world make to rain clouds?"

"That which God gives, nobody can ban. That which God bans, nobody can give."

"The crow does not hide its prey, but calls for others to share it; so wealth will be with those of a like disposition."

"The crow does not hide its prey, but calls for others to share it; so wealth will be with those of a like disposition."

"The axle of a cart loaded only with light peacock feathers can also break, if it is greatly overloaded."

"The biggest fool is he who has learned much, taught much, and is still discontented."