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

Rabbi Akiva, fully Rebbe Akiva ben Yosef NULL

Rejoice in adversity even more than in prosperity, for suffering brings forgiveness of sin.

Adversity | Character | Forgiveness | Prosperity | Sin | Suffering | Wisdom | Forgiveness |

Richard Chenevix, fully Richard Chenevix Trench, Archbishop of Dublin

The lessons of adversity are often the most benignant when they seem the most severe. The depression of vanity sometimes ennobles the feeling. The mind which does not wholly sink under misfortune rises above it more lofty than before, and is strengthened by affliction.

Adversity | Affliction | Character | Depression | Mind | Misfortune | Misfortune |

Euripedes NULL

It is wise even in adversity to listen to reason.

Adversity | Character | Reason | Wise |

Alfred George Gardiner

The man who is consumed by hate is not only a misery to himself, but a source of misery to all around him, not because of the menace he offers to our interests but because he defiles the atmosphere we breathe and debases the currency of our kind.

Character | Hate | Man |

Horace, full name Quintus Horatius Flaccus NULL

In adversity remember to keep an even mind.

Adversity | Character | Mind |

Victor Hugo

The misery of a child is interesting to a mother, the misery of a young man is interesting to a young woman, the misery of an old man is interesting to nobody.

Character | Man | Mother | Woman | Child | Old |

Victor Hugo

There is always more misery among the lower classes than there is humanity in the higher.

Character | Humanity |

John Locke

Men’s happiness or misery is most part of their own making.

Character | Men | Happiness |

Yeruchem Levovitz, aka The Mashgiach

People become so used to being unhappy they are unaware of the needless misery they cause themselves. They imprison themselves by filling their minds with thoughts of resentment, hatred, envy, and desires. It is amazing how they tolerate living such a life. The only reason they do tolerate it is because they have become so used to living with such thoughts they fell it is the normal picture of life. They mistakenly think it is impossible for life to be any different.

Cause | Character | Envy | Life | Life | People | Reason | Resentment | Think |

Baron de Montesquieu, fully Charles-Louis de Secondat, Baron de La Brède et de Montesquieu

Men in excess of happiness or misery are equally inclined to severity. Witness conquerors and monks! It is mediocrity alone, and a mixture of prosperous and adverse fortune that inspire us with lenity and pity.

Character | Excess | Fortune | Mediocrity | Men | Pity | Witness | Happiness |

Philemon NULL

In this thing one man is superior to another, that he is better able to bear adversity and prosperity.

Adversity | Better | Character | Man | Prosperity |

Publius Syrus

Prosperity begets friends; adversity proves them.

Adversity | Character | Prosperity |

Francis Quarles

To bear adversity with an equal mind is both the sign and glory of a brave spirit.

Adversity | Character | Glory | Mind | Spirit |

Sydney Smith

That charity alone endures which flows from a sense of duty and a hope in God. this is the charity that treads in secret those paths of misery from which all but the lowest of human wretches have fled; this is that charity which no labor can weary, no ingratitude detach, no horror disgust; that toils, that pardons, that suffers; that is seen by no man, and honored by no man, but, like the great laws of Nature, does the work of God in silence, and looks to a future and better world for its reward.

Better | Character | Charity | Duty | Future | God | Hope | Ingratitude | Labor | Looks | Man | Nature | Reward | Sense | Silence | Work | World | God |