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

Kautilya, aka Chanakya or Vishnu Gupta NULL

A good wife is one who serves her husband in the morning like a mother does, loves him in the day like a sister does and pleases him like a prostitute in the night.

Virtue | Virtue |

Saichō NULL

The Lotus SÅ«tra refers to one seeking the lesser fruit and states, 'Does not go near.' None of the bhiká¹£us of this country seek the lesser fruit.

Anger | Discussion | Language | Light | Repentance |

Ishvarakrishna, aka Iśvarakṛṣṇa NULL

Through virtue there is ascent; through vice there is descent; through knowledge there is deliverance; there is bondage through the reverse.

Attainment | Rest | Self | Virtue | Virtue |

Ban Zhao, courtesy name Huiban

As Yin and Yang are not of the same nature, so man and woman have different characteristics. The distinctive quality of the Yang is rigidity; the function of the Yin is yielding. Man is honored for strength; a woman is beautiful on account of her gentleness. Hence there arose the common saying: "A man though born like a wolf may, it is feared, become a weak monstrosity; a woman though born like a mouse may, it is feared, become a tiger."

Appearance | Need | Virtue | Virtue | Woman | Words | Work |

Ban Zhao, courtesy name Huiban

These three ancient customs epitomize woman's ordinary way of life and the teachings of the traditional ceremonial rites and regulations. Let a woman modestly yield to others; 1et her respect others; let her put others first, herself last. Should she do something good, let her not mention it; should she do something bad let her not deny it. Let her bear disgrace; let her even endure when others speak or do evil to her. Always let her seem to tremble and to fear. When a woman follows such maxims as these then she may be said to humble herself before others.

Desire | Love | Virtue | Virtue | Woman |

William Shakespeare

Shine comforts from the east, That I may back to Athens by daylight From these that my poor company detest; And sleep, that sometimes shuts up sorrow's eye, Steal me awhile from mine own company.

Art | Beauty | Death | Enough | Evil | Father | Fortune | God | Good | Government | Heart | Rage | Shame | Tears | Vengeance | Virtue | Virtue | Government | Art | Beauty | God |

William Shakespeare

So wise so young, they say, do never live long. Richard III, Act iii, Scene 1

Virtue | Virtue | Will |

William Shakespeare

Rebellious subjects, enemies to peace, profaners of this neighbour-stained steel, — Will they not hear? — What, ho! you men, you beasts, that quench the fire of your pernicious rage with purple fountains issuing from your veins! On pain of torture, from those bloody hands throw your mistemper'd weapons to the ground, and hear the sentence of your moved Prince. Three civil brawls, bred of an airy word, by thee, old Capulet, and Montague, have thrice disturb'd the quiet of our streets, and made Verona's ancient citizens cast by their grave beseeming ornaments, to wield old partisans, in hands as old, canker'd with peace, to part your canker'd hate. If ever you disturb our streets again, your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace. For this time, all the rest depart away. You, Capulet, shall go along with me — And Montague, come you this afternoon — To know our further pleasure in this case, to old Free-town, our common judgment-place. Once more, on pain of death, all men depart.

Virtue | Virtue | Youth | Youth |

William Shakespeare

So we grew together, Like to a double cherry, seeming parted, But yet an union in partition-- Two lovely berries moulded on one stem; So, with two seeming bodies, but one heart; Two of the first, like coats in heraldry, Due but to one, and crowned with one crest. A Midsummer Night's Dream (Helena at III, ii)

Man | Merit | Truth | Virtue | Virtue | Wrong |

William Shakespeare

See you now-- Your bait of falsehood takes this carp of truth, And thus do we of wisdom and of reach, With windlasses and with assays of bias, By indirections find directions out.

Virtue | Virtue |

William Shakespeare

She either gives a stomach and no food— such are the poor, in health; or else a feast and takes away the stomach—such are the rich, that have abundance and enjoy it not.

Virtue | Virtue | Worth |

William Shakespeare

Some say that ever 'gainst that season comes wherein our Saviour's birth is celebrated, the bird of dawning singeth all night long, and then, they say, no spirit dare stir abroad, the nights are wholesome, then no planets strike, no fairy takes, nor witch hath power to charm. So hallowed and so gracious is that time.

Fault | Virtue | Virtue | Fault |

William Shakespeare

Such an exploit have I in hand, Ligarius, Had you a healthful ear to hear of it. Julius Caesar (Brutus at II, i)

Blush | Grace | Virtue | Virtue |

Elizabeth Gilbert

As smoking is to the lungs, so is resentment to the soul; even one puff is bad for you.

Important | Laziness | Virtue | Virtue | Will | Writing |

Émile Souvestre

Two thirds of human existence are wasted in hesitation.

Men | Virtue | Virtue |

Étienne Pivert de Senancour

The loss really irreparable is that of desires.

Virtue | Virtue |

Ethiopian Proverbs

The witness of a rat is another rat.

Repentance |

Gore Vidal, fully Eugene Luther Gore Vidal

Mardonius was more fond of me than I was of him. That always gives one an advantage.

Literature | Virtue | Virtue | World |

Eugene V. Debs, fully Eugene Victor Debs

The united vote of those who toil and have not will vanquish those who have and toil not, and solve forever the problems of democracy.

Courage | Injustice | Injustice | Intelligence | Justice | Men | Power | Right | Virtue | Virtue | Will | Wrong |

Euripedes NULL

Along with success comes a reputation for wisdom.

Children | Love | People | Virtue | Virtue |