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

Thich Nhất Hanh

To dwell in the here and now does not mean you never think about the past or responsibly plan for the future. The idea is simply not to allow yourself to get lost in regrets about the past or worries about the future. If you are firmly grounded in the present moment, the past can be an object of inquiry, the object of your mindfulness and concentration. You can attain many insights by looking into the past. But you are still grounded in the present moment.

Need | Order | Practice | Suffering |

Thich Nhất Hanh

When we are angry, our anger is our very self. To suppress or chase away our anger is to suppress or chase away ourselves. When anger is born, we can be aware that anger is an energy in us, and we can change that energy into another kind of energy. If we want to transform it, first we have to know how to accept it.

Capacity | Heart | Suffering |

Thich Nhất Hanh

You can use your life in a very useful and intelligent way. You can very well transform that negative energy into a positive energy that empowers you and makes life meaningful.

Listening | Order | Practice | Purpose | Purpose | Suffering |

Thich Nhất Hanh

People kill and are killed because they cling too tightly to their own beliefs and ideologies. When we believe that ours is the only faith that contains the truth, violence and suffering will surely be the result.

Fear | Suffering | Time |

Thich Nhất Hanh

Many people are alive but don't touch the miracle of being alive.

Suffering |

Thich Nhất Hanh

The true miracle is not walking on water or walking in air, but simply walking on this earth.

Love | Suffering | Thought | Thought |

Thich Nhất Hanh

When we come into contact with the other person, our thoughts and actions should express our mind of compassion, even if that person says and does things that are not easy to accept. We practice in this way until we see clearly that our love is not contingent upon the other person being lovable.

Suffering |

Thich Nhất Hanh

So please smile. Smile with your eyes, not just with your lips.

Listening | Love | Suffering |

Theodore Cuyler, fully Theodore Ledyard Cuyler

"Follow me!" The publican "rose up." This implied immediate action. It was now or never with him. So you must act with prompt obedience. He did the first thing Jesus bade him do. Are you willing to do as much? If not, you are deciding against Christ, and that means death.

Glory | Suffering |

Thich Nhất Hanh

The source of love is deep in us and we can help others realize a lot of happiness. One word, one action, one thought can reduce another person’s suffering and bring that person joy.

Suffering |

Thich Nhất Hanh

Understanding means throwing away your knowledge.

Love | Practice | Suffering |

Thich Nhất Hanh

For things to reveal themselves to us, we need to be ready to abandon our views about them.

Nature | Suffering |

Thich Nhất Hanh

Root out the violence in your life, and learn to live compassionately and mindfully. Seek peace. When you have peace within, real peace with others is possible.

Suffering | Understand |

Thich Nhất Hanh

The Buddha's teachings on love are clear. It is possible to live twenty-four hours a day in a state of love. Every movement, every glance, every thought, and every word can be infused with love.

Capacity | Suffering |

Thich Nhất Hanh

The fact is that when you make the other suffer, he will try to find relief by making you suffer more. The result is an escalation of suffering on both sides.

Ability | Compassion | Enough | Love | Observation | Suffering | Witness |

Thich Nhất Hanh

Most people are afraid of suffering. But suffering is a kind of mud to help the lotus flower grow. There cannot be a lotus flower without the mud.

Suffering | Understanding |

Thich Nhất Hanh

My actions are my only true belongings. I cannot escape the consequences of my actions. My actions are the ground on which I stand.

People | Suffering | Afraid |

Theodore Cuyler, fully Theodore Ledyard Cuyler

We never can create a public sentiment strong enough to suppress the dram-shops until God's people take hold of the temperance reform as a part of their religion.

Defects | Strength | Suffering |

Thomas Carlyle

For the eye of the intellect sees in all objects what it brought with it the means of seeing.

Suffering |

Thomas Jefferson

A little rebellion now and then is a good thing and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical.

Government | Little | Luck | Opportunity | Patience | Principles | Public | Suffering | War | Luck | Government | Winning |