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

Whittaker Chambers, born Jay Vivian Chambers, aka Jay David Whittaker Chambers

True wisdom comes from the overcoming of suffering and sin. All true wisdom is therefore touched with sadness.

Character | Sadness | Sin | Suffering | Wisdom |

Miguel de Cervantes, fully Miguel de Cervantes Saaversa

He is best served who has no occasion to put the hand of others at the end of his arms.

Character |

Chazon Ish, named Rabbi Avraham Yeshayahu Karelitz

In the eyes of a wise person, illusory honor is very cheap. Wisdom enables a person to live a life of light and elevation, enabling him to leave pettiness behind.

Character | Honor | Life | Life | Light | Wisdom | Wise |

Edward Dahlberg

It is hideous and coarse to assume that we can do something for others - and it is vile not to endeavor to do it.

Character |

Alexandre Dumas, born Dumas Davy de la Pailleterie

All human wisdom is summed up in two words - wait and hope.

Character | Hope | Wisdom | Words |

William Cowper

Accomplishments have taken virtue’s place, and wisdom falls before exterior grace.

Character | Grace | Virtue | Virtue | Wisdom |

Joseph Francis Eduard Desmahis

We cannot do evil to others without doing it to ourselves.

Character | Evil |

Abba Eban, born Aubrey Solomon Meir Eban

Propaganda is the art of persuading others of what you don't believe yourself.

Art | Character | Wisdom | Art |

Charles Alexander Eastman, first named Ohiyesa

The first American mingled with her pride a singular humility. Spiritual arrogance was foreign to his nature and teaching. He never claimed that his power of articulate speech was proof of superiority over “dumb creation”; on the other hand, speech to him is a perilous gift. He believes profoundly in silence - the sign of perfect equilibrium. silence is the absolute poise or balance of body, mind and spirit. The an who preserves his selfhood ever calm and unshaken by the storms of existence - not a leaf, as it were, astir on the tree, not a ripple upon the surface of the shining pool - his, in the mind of the unlettered sage, is the ideal attitude and conduct of life.

Absolute | Arrogance | Balance | Body | Character | Conduct | Existence | Humility | Life | Life | Mind | Nature | Power | Pride | Silence | Speech | Spirit | Superiority |

Albert Einstein

Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile.

Character | Life | Life |

George Crabbe

In idle wishes fools supinely stay; be there a will, and wisdom finds a way.

Character | Will | Wisdom | Wishes |

Rabbi Eleazar ben Azariah NULL

Who stimulates others to do good is greater than the doer.

Character | Good | Wisdom |

William Cowper

Knowledge is proud that he has learned so much; wisdom is humble that he knows no more.

Character | Knowledge | Wisdom |

Tyron Edwards

Some of the best lessons we ever learn we learn from our mistakes and failures. The error of the past is the wisdom and success of the future.

Character | Error | Future | Past | Success | Wisdom | Learn |

Charles de Saint-Évremond, fully Charles Marguetel de Saint-Denis, seigneur de Évremond

The censure of those that are opposed to us is the nicest commendation that can be given us.

Censure | Character |

George Eliot, pen name of Mary Ann or Marian Evans

Life is very difficult. It seems right to me sometimes that we should follow our strongest feelings; but then such feelings continually come across the ties that all our former life has made for us - the ties that have made others depend on us - and would cut them in two.

Character | Feelings | Life | Life | Right | Wisdom |

M. V. Drake

When all our hopes are gone 'tis well our hands must still keep toiling on for others' sake. For strength to bear is found in duty alone, and he is blest indeed who learns to make the joy of others cure his own heartache.

Character | Duty | Joy | Strength |

Dubner Magid, name for Rabbi Jacob ben wolf Krantz

The honor-seeker does not study wisdom to become wiser. Rather his goal is to show off how wise he is. This is an attribute of a fool.

Character | Honor | Study | Wisdom | Wise |