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

Gore Vidal, fully Eugene Luther Gore Vidal

An eagle, looking for a hard surface on which to break up the turtle that he held in his claws, mistook the bald head of Aeschylus, the author of The Persians, for a rock and let slip the turtle, with fatal accuracy.

Play | Right |

Gore Vidal, fully Eugene Luther Gore Vidal

Patriotism is as sickening today as it has ever been. I was watching the news before you came and there was a lot of coverage of Kosovo and the problems there. They showed footage of people burning an American flag. And the newscaster got all broken up and teary-eyed. He says, "I guess [sob] I just feel something here, folks, when I see the American flag being burned." And I said, You fucking asshole. Whatever happened to the news?

Price | Proletariat | Question | Right | System |

Gore Vidal, fully Eugene Luther Gore Vidal

The American reader cannot bear a surprise. He knows that this is the greatest country on earthÂ…and evidence to the contrary is not admissible. That means no inconvenient facts, no new information. If you really want the readerÂ’s attention, you must flatter him. Make his prejudices your own. Tell him things he already knows. He will love your soundness.

Evil | Freedom | Happy | History | People | Purpose | Purpose |

Gore Vidal, fully Eugene Luther Gore Vidal

There is no such thing as a homosexual or a heterosexual person. There are only homo- or heterosexual acts. Most people are a mixture of impulses if not practices.

People |

Gore Vidal, fully Eugene Luther Gore Vidal

There is no such thing as a true account of anything.

People |

Euripedes NULL

There is no harbor of peace from the changing waves of joy and despair.

Bitterness | People |

Euripedes NULL

Along with success comes a reputation for wisdom.

Children | Love | People | Virtue | Virtue |

Euripedes NULL

No one who goes against her can win.

People |

Eugenio Montale

I love athletics because it is poetry If the night dream, dream to be a marathon runner.

Art | People | Truth | Art |

Euripedes NULL

Wealth stays with us a little moment if at all: only our characters are steadfast, not our gold.

Anger | Harm | Right | Friends |

Evan Esar

The thing that surprises the college graduate most when he gets out in the world is to find out how much uneducated people know.

Right | Writing |

Evelyn Waugh, fully Evelyn Arthur St. John Waugh

I will not stand for being called a woman in my own house.

Cause | Death | Life | Life | Man | People | Public |

Evelyn Waugh, fully Evelyn Arthur St. John Waugh

It doesn't matter what people call you unless they call you pigeon pie and eat you up.

Absurd | People |

Evelyn Waugh, fully Evelyn Arthur St. John Waugh

What is youth except a man or woman before it is ready or fit to be seen?

Chance | Family | Impulse | Nature | People |