Great Throughts Treasury

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

Related Quotes

Michel de Montaigne, fully Lord Michel Eyquem de Montaigne

Vice leaves repentance in the soul like an ulcer in the flesh, which is always scratching and lacerating itself; for reason effaces all other griefs and sorrows, but it begets that of repentance, which is so much the more grievous, by reason it springs within, as the cold and hot of fevers are more sharp than those that only strike upon the outward skin.

Character | Reason | Repentance | Soul |

Thomas Merton

To say that I am made in the image of God is to say that Love is the reason for my existence, for God is love. Love is my true identity. Selflessness is my true self. Love is my true character. Love is my name.

Character | Existence | God | Love | Reason | God |

Joaquin Miller, formally Cincinnatus Heine (or Hiner) Miller

That man who lives for self alone lives for the meanest mortal known.

Character | Man | Mortal | Self |

Michel de Montaigne, fully Lord Michel Eyquem de Montaigne

There is no desire more natural than the desire for knowledge. We try all the ways that can lead us to it. When reason fails us, we use experience.. which is a weaker and less dignified means. But truth is so great a thing that we must not disdain any medium that will lead us to it.

Character | Desire | Disdain | Experience | Knowledge | Means | Reason | Truth | Will |

Henry Spencer Moore

Virtue is to her self the best reward.

Character | Reward | Self | Virtue | Virtue |

J. R. Miller, fully James Russell Miller

It is not enough to begin; continuance is necessary. Mere enrollment will not make one scholar; the pupil must continue in the school through the long course, until he masters every branch. Success depends upon staying power. The reason for failure in most cases is lack of perseverance.

Character | Enough | Failure | Perseverance | Power | Reason | Scholar | Success | Will | Failure |

Maurice Nicoll

Only when we realise that we have no self can we seek ourselves. Only through a flash of truth can one understand ignorance.

Character | Ignorance | Self | Truth | Understand |

Michel de Montaigne, fully Lord Michel Eyquem de Montaigne

The virtue of the soul does not consist in flying high, but walking orderly; its grandeur does not exercise itself in grandeur, but in mediocrity.

Character | Mediocrity | Soul | Virtue | Virtue |

Alden C. Palmer

If one lives with Nature a little while, he soon recognizes the harmony of creation... Each of us is, therefore, an instrument of God. When one thinks of his humble self in this light, life takes on a more profound meaning.

Character | God | Harmony | Life | Life | Light | Little | Meaning | Nature | Self |

Robert M. Pirsig

So the thing to do when working on a motorcycle, as in any other task, is to cultivate the peace of mind which does not separate one’s self from one’s surroundings. When that is done successfully, then everything else follows naturally. Peace of mind produces right values, right values produce right thoughts. Right thoughts produce right actions and right actions produce work which will be a material reflection for others to see of the serenity at the center of it all.

Character | Mind | Peace | Reflection | Right | Self | Serenity | Will | Work |

Francis Wayland Parker

The end and aim of all education is the development of character.

Character | Education |

William James O'Shea

Character development is the great, if not the sole, aim of education.

Character | Education |

Margaret Percival

The real value of any doctrine can only be determined by its influence on the conduct of man, with respect to himself, to his fellow-creatures, or to God.

Character | Conduct | Doctrine | God | Influence | Man | Respect | Respect | Value |

Edwin McNeill Poteat

Freedom is placed in jeopardy more by those who will not exercise it than by those who will not permit it. Indifference opens more gates to the enemy than does tyranny.

Character | Enemy | Freedom | Indifference | Tyranny | Will |

Nikita Ivanovich Panin

To be forbearing to all - that is love; to be relentless toward self - that is wisdom; to be content with what one has - that is riches; to be discontented with what one is - that is piety.

Character | Love | Piety | Riches | Self | Wisdom |

Austin Phelps

In the destiny of every moral being there is an object more worthy of God than happiness. It is character. And the grand aim of man's creation is the development of grand character - and grand character is, by its very nature, the product of probationary discipline.

Character | Destiny | Discipline | God | Man | Nature | Object | God |

Samuel I. Prime, fully Samuel Irenaeus Prime

There is little influence where there is not great sympathy.

Character | Influence | Little | Sympathy |