Great Throughts Treasury

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

Thiruvalluvar NULL

Indian Tamil Philosopher and Writer

"The face may a wear a smile at the sight of one friend, but he only is a friend whose sight brings about an internal joy which fills the whole soul."

"The deeper you dig, greater the spring; the more you learn, greater the knowledge."

"The great person will do things rare to do; the small cannot do rare things."

"The lotus’ stem is as long as the depth of water, so men’s height is just as great as their inner strength."

"The only gift is giving to the poor; all else is exchange."

"The stalks of water-flowers are proportionate to the depth of water; so is men's greatness proportionate to their minds (Knowledge)."

"The gruel that children's little hands have stirred is sweeter than nectar."

"The ignorant are like useless, brackish soil; they exist and that is all."

"The immoral can no more earn respect than the envious be rich."

"The lotus flower rises to the level of water greatness of men rise with mental strength."

"The learned teacher makes you enjoy learning; on leaving, makes you to keep thinking of his teaching."

"The hair on the head is a thing of beauty. Removed form its place, it become filth. The same is the fate of men who descend from their own level of honorable conduct and demean themselves."

"The learned are said to have seeing eyes; the unlearned have only two sores on their faces."

"They who in trouble untroubled are, will trouble trouble itself."

"Those are fools however learned who have not learned to walk with the world."

"There is nothing too difficult to be accomplished when done carefully with unflinching endeavor."

"The vast world rainless, one may bid adieu to charity and penance."

"The wound that's made by fire will heal, but the wound that's made by tongue will never heal."

"There is no greater wealth than Virtue, and no greater loss than to forget it."

"The worth of a wife is a man's good fortune; his jewels are his good children."

"Think and then undertake the work; to think after commencement will bring disgrace."

"There may be many who will gladly face death in the battlefield, but few who will face a hostile society."

"Those who give way to great anger are like the dead: those who are free from anger are free from death."

"To say unpleasant things, when we have nice ones,is like eating unripe fruit, ignoring sweet ripe fruits."

"Though the world goes round with many activities, it is dependent on agriculture. Hence, though laborious, farming is the foremost activity."

"Those who have wisdom have all."

"To turn away a guest is poorest poverty; to bear with fools is mightiest might."

"True friends guard you from evil, make you walk in right path and share your sorrow in difficult times."

"To use bitter words, when kind words are at hand, is like picking unripe fruit when the ripe fruit is there."

"Virtue alone is happiness; all else is else, and without praise."

"To get wealth and security by guile is like one who pours water into a pot of unbaked clay."

"We cannot be certain of living the next minute. But we are not content with even a million plans."

"Water will flow from a water-well in proportion to the depth to which it is dug, and knowledge will flow from a man in proportion to his learning."

"Whatever is thought to be done will be achieved as planned, if the planners possess firmness in execution."

"Whatever things a man gives up, by those he cannot suffer pain."

"When no food is given to the ear, then let a little be given to the stomach."

"When the rare chance comes, seize it to do the rare deed."

"When you are about to badger the weak, then imagine yourself before a more powerful man."

"Worthless are those who injure others vengefully, while those who stoically endure are like stored gold. The gratification of the vengeful lasts only for a day, but the glory of the forbearing lasts until the end of time. Though unjustly aggrieved, it is best to suffer the suffering and refrain from unrighteous retaliation."