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

Anatole France, pen name of Jacques Anatole Francois Thibault

The whole art of teaching is only the art of awakening the natural curiosity of young mind for the purpose of satisfying it afterwards.

Art | Awakening | Curiosity | Mind | Purpose | Purpose | Wisdom | Art |

Sigmund Freud, born Sigismund Schlomo Freud

A man should not strive to eliminate his complexes but to get into accord with them: they are legitimately what directs his conduct in the world.

Conduct | Man | Wisdom | World |

Sigmund Freud, born Sigismund Schlomo Freud

The idea of life having a purpose stands and falls with the religious system.

Life | Life | Purpose | Purpose | System | Wisdom |

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Beauty is at once the ultimate principle and the highest aim of art.

Art | Beauty | Wisdom |

Sigmund Freud, born Sigismund Schlomo Freud

To be sure, if it is the purpose of educators to stifle the child’s power of independent thought as early as possible, in order to produce that ‘good behavior’ which is so highly prized, they cannot do better than deceive children in sexual matters and intimidate them by religious means. The stronger characters will, it is true, withstand these influences; they will become rebels against the authority of their parents and later against every other form of authority. When children do not receive the explanations for which they turn to their elders, they go on tormenting themselves in secret with the problem, and produce attempts at solution in which the truth they have guessed is mixed up in the most extraordinary way with grotesque inventions; or else they whisper confidences to each other which, because of the sense of guilt in the youthful inquirers, stamp everything sexual as horrible and disgusting.

Authority | Behavior | Better | Children | Good | Guilt | Means | Order | Parents | Power | Purpose | Purpose | Receive | Sense | Thought | Truth | Will | Wisdom | Thought |

Henry Giles

No principle is more noble, as there is none more holy, than that of a true obedience.

Obedience | Wisdom |

Claude-Adrien Helvétius

Every man without passions has within him no principle of action, nor motive to act.

Action | Man | Wisdom |

Benjamin R. Haydon

The safest principle through life, instead of reforming others, is to set about perfecting yourself.

Life | Life | Wisdom |

Sarah J. Hale, fully Sarah Josepha Buell Hale

Those who would enjoyment gain must find it in the purpose they pursue.

Enjoyment | Purpose | Purpose | Wisdom |

Frederick Dan Huntington

Holiness is religious principle put into motion. It is the love of God sent forth into circulation, on the feet, and with the hands of love to men. It is faith gone to work. It is charity coined into actions, and devotion breathing benediction on human suffering, while it goes up in intercession to the Father of all piety.

Charity | Devotion | Faith | Father | God | Love | Men | Piety | Suffering | Wisdom | Work | God |

Arianna Huffington, born Arianna Stassinopoulos

Things as they are are changed when we demonstrate a new reality. A very small change in perception can result in a change in behavior and, cumulatively, in a very large change in cultural patterns. Our purpose and destiny are encoded within us. But they do not automatically propel us to the next act in our day, let alone the next stage in our evolution. Our Fourth Instinct allows us to see that next stage, and our free will enables us to act on it so that it can become a reality.

Behavior | Change | Day | Destiny | Evolution | Free will | Instinct | Perception | Purpose | Purpose | Reality | Will | Wisdom |

Aldous Leonard Huxley

The propagandist's purpose is to make one set of people forget that certain other sets of people are human.

People | Purpose | Purpose | Wisdom |

Herbert Hoover, fully Herbert Clark Hoover

Even if governmental conduct of business could give us more efficiency instead of less efficiency, the fundamental objection to it would remain unaltered and unabated. It would destroy political equality. It would increase rather than decrease abuse and corruption. It would stifle initiative and invention. It would undermine the development of leadership. It would cramp and cripple the mental and spiritual energies of our people. It would extinguish equality and opportunity. It would dry up the spirit of liberty and progress.

Abuse | Business | Conduct | Corruption | Destroy | Efficiency | Equality | Initiative | Invention | Liberty | Opportunity | People | Progress | Spirit | Wisdom | Business |

Aldous Leonard Huxley

We possess a hidden higher self, the spark of divinity within the soul, which reflects this transcendental reality in our lives. By fulfilling certain necessary conditions, such as making ourselves more loving and compassionate, we can clear away the mental and emotional static that separates us from this inner reality, enabling the higher self to assume a central, guiding role in our lives. This awakening - called enlightenment, deliverance, or salvation in the various traditions - is the goal or purpose of human life. When we achieve this complete transformation of consciousness, we awaken from our limited, often painful condition and reconnect with our true nature.

Awakening | Consciousness | Divinity | Enlightenment | Life | Life | Nature | Purpose | Purpose | Reality | Salvation | Self | Soul | Wisdom |

Abbie Hoffman, fully Abbot Howard "Abbie" Hoffman

The idea that the media is there to educate us, or to inform us, is ridiculous because that’s about tenth or eleventh on their list. The first purpose of the media is to sell us shit, things we don’t need. One moment it’ll be “don’t do drugs” and ten minutes later it’s Miller time.

Need | Purpose | Purpose | Time | Wisdom |