Great Throughts Treasury

"We see the world piece by piece, as the sun, the moon, the animal, the tree; but the whole, of which these are the shining parts, is the soul. From within or from behind a light shines through us upon things, and makes us aware that we are nothing, but the light is all."

"We think our civilization near its meridian, but we are yet only at the cock-crowing and the morning star. In our barbarous society the influences of character is in its infancy."

"What are very near to greatness: one step and we are safe: can we not take the leap?"

"What I must do is all that concerns me, not what people think."

"What is imagination?… Only the precursor of the reason."

"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us."

"When we preach unworthily it is not always in vain. There is poetic truth concealed in all the commonplaces of prayer and of sermons, and though foolishly spoken, they may be wisely heard."

"When it is dark enough, men see stars."

"Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year."

"Don't waste your life in doubts and fears: spend yourself on the work before you, well assured that the right performance of this hour's duties will be the best preparation for the hours or ages that follow it."

"Who you are shouts so loud, I cannot hear what you’re saying."

"Whoso would be a man, must be a non-conformist."

"A Day is a miniature Eternity."

"A great man is always willing to be little."

"‘Tis weak and vicious people who cast the blame on fate."

"A good indignation brings out all one's powers."

"A man is what he thinks about all day long."

"A man must consider what a rich realm he abdicates when he becomes a conformist."

"A person will worship something, have no doubt about that. We may think our tribute is paid in secret in the dark recesses of our hearts, but it will out. That which dominates our imaginations and our thoughts will determine our lives, and our character. Therefore, it behooves us to be careful what we worship, for what we are worshipping we are becoming."

"A political victory, a rise in rents, the recovery of your sickness, or the return of your absent friend, or some other quite external event raises your spirits, and you think good days are preparing for you. Do not believe it. It can never be so. Nothing can bring you peace but yourself."

"Are you not scared by seeing that the gypsies are more attractive to us than the apostles?"

"As soon as there is life, there is danger."

"Be as beneficent as the sun or the sea, but if your rights as a rational being are trenched on, die on the first inch of your territory."

"Colleges hate geniuses, just as convents hate saints."

"Character is higher than intellect."

"Character is always known. Thefts never enrich; alms never impoverish; murder will speak out of stone walls."

"Curiosity is lying in wait for every secret."

"Do not be timid and squeamish about your actions; all life is an experiment. The more experiments you make, the better."

"Commerce is of trivial import; love, faith, truth of character, the aspiration of man, these are sacred."

"Do not go where the path may lead instead go where there is no path and leave a trail."

"Enthusiasm is one of the most powerful engines of success. When you do a thing, do it with all your might. Put your whole soul into it. Stamp it with your own personality. Be active, be energetic and faithful, and you will accomplish your object. Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm."

"Do the thing you fear, and death of fear is certain."

"Each man is a hero and an oracle to somebody."

"Every actual state is corrupt. Good men must not obey laws too well."

"Every burned book enlightens the world."

"Every calamity is a spur and valuable hint."

"Every evil to which we do not succumb is a benefactor."

"Every spirit builds itself a house; and beyond its house, a world; and beyond its world, a heaven."

"God builds his temple in the heart on the ruins of churches and religions."

"Every violation of truth is a stab at the health of human society."

"Good thoughts are no better than good dreams, unless they be executed."

"Goodness that preaches undoes itself."

"Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense."

"Great men are they who see the spiritual is stronger than material force, that thoughts rule the world."

"Great men, great nations, have not been boasters and buffoons, but perceivers of the terror of life, and have manned themselves to meet it."

"Great geniuses have the shortest biographies: Their cousins can tell you nothing about them."

"He has not learned the lesson of life who does not each day surmount a fear."

"I do not wish to treat friendships daintily, but with the roughest courage. When they are real, they are not glass thread or frostwork, but the solidest thing we know."

"He who commits wrong must suffer wrong."

"Health is the condition of wisdom, and the sign is cheerfulness, - an open and noble temper."