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

J. B. Priestly, fully John Boynton Priestly

Public opinion polls are rather like children in a garden, digging things up all the time to see how they're growing.

Action | Enough | Force | Law | Little | Time |

J. B. S. Haldane, fully John Burdon Sanderson Haldane

Until politics are a branch of science we shall do well to regard political and social reforms as experiments rather than short-cuts to the millennium.

Universe | War |

J. R. R. Tolkien, fully John Ronald Reuel Tolkien

And why not? Surely you don't disbelieve the prophecies just because you helped them come about. You don't really suppose do you that all your adventures and escapes were managed by mere luck? Just for your sole benefit? You're a very fine person, Mr. Baggins, and I'm quite fond of you. But you are really just a little fellow, in a wide world after all.

Law | Slavery | Weapons | Child |

J. L. Balsford

Human happiness depends mainly upon the improvement of small opportunities.

Universe | Will |

J. R. R. Tolkien, fully John Ronald Reuel Tolkien

As for what you say or hint of 'local' conditions: I knew of them. I don't think they have much changed (even for the worse). I used to hear them discussed by my mother; and have ever since taken a special interest in that part of the world. The treatment of color nearly always horrifies anyone going out from Britain, & not only in South Africa. Unfortunately, not many retain that generous sentiment for long.

Corruption | Law |

J. R. R. Tolkien, fully John Ronald Reuel Tolkien

Do not trouble your hearts overmuch with thought of the road tonight. Maybe the paths that you shall each tread are already laid before your feet, though you do not see them.

Law |

J. R. R. Tolkien, fully John Ronald Reuel Tolkien

Few there were who could change his courses by counsel. None by force.

Law | Success |

J. R. R. Tolkien, fully John Ronald Reuel Tolkien

Far more often [than asking the question 'Is it true?'] they [children] have asked me: 'Was he good? Was he wicked?' That is, they were far more concerned to get the Right side and the Wrong side clear. For that is a question equally important in History and in Faerie.

Law |

J. R. R. Tolkien, fully John Ronald Reuel Tolkien

Each day before the end of eve she sought her lover, nor would him leave, until the stars were dimmed, and day came glimmering eastward silver-grey. Then trembling-veiled she would appear, and dance before him, half in fear; there flitting just before his feet she gently chid with laughter sweet: 'Come! dance now, Beren, dance with me! For fain thy dancing I would see!

Absence | Business | Ideas | Innovation | Life | Life | Model | Universe | Will | World | Following | Business |

J. R. R. Tolkien, fully John Ronald Reuel Tolkien

Folly it may seem. Indeed in nothing is the power of the Dark Lord more clearly shown than in the estrangement that divides all those who still oppose him?. We live now upon an island amid many perils, and our hands are more often upon the bowstring than upon the harp

Innovation | Law | Life | Life | Organization | Success |

J. R. R. Tolkien, fully John Ronald Reuel Tolkien

Go not to the Elves for counsel, for they will say both no and yes.

Law |