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

Michel de Montaigne, fully Lord Michel Eyquem de Montaigne

Anyone who has once been very foolish will never at any other time be very wise.

Character | Time | Will | Wise |

J. R. Miller, fully James Russell Miller

It is not enough to begin; continuance is necessary. Mere enrollment will not make one scholar; the pupil must continue in the school through the long course, until he masters every branch. Success depends upon staying power. The reason for failure in most cases is lack of perseverance.

Character | Enough | Failure | Perseverance | Power | Reason | Scholar | Success | Will | Failure |

Yaakov Neiman

Every occurrence and situation in our lives can be utilized for elevation and growth. When a person’s main focus is growth, he will be able to have peace of mind regardless of what the specific situation is.

Character | Focus | Growth | Mind | Peace | Will |

Maurice Nicoll

If the universe be in man (as a scale of reality) as well as man in the universe, then if a man gives an inferior explanation of the universe it will react on himself; he will limit himself and remain inferior to his own potential being.

Character | Man | Reality | Universe | Will |

Maurice Nicoll

Perhaps we scarcely notice that in every direction our natural understanding leads us to nothing. We come either to contradiction or to the unknown... We do not think of the growth of a seed in our world in the same way. We cannot imitate growth. Growth is from ‘inside’. Higher dimensions enter our world from inside, from the direction of the most minute.

Character | Contradiction | Growth | Nothing | Understanding | World | Think |

Maurice Nicoll

What is man’s life compared to the life of the whole Universe? If man’s life is nothing but a minute part of the life of the whole world if he inserted into the cycle of all the Universe so that his appearance and reappearance is dependent upon the gigantic cosmic processes that belong to the Universe, what chance has he of altering anything in his destiny?

Appearance | Chance | Character | Destiny | Life | Life | Man | Nothing | Universe | World |

Nachman of Breslov, aka Reb Nachman Breslover or Bratslav, Nachman from Uman NULL

We cannot think two thoughts at the same time. Consequently, when negative thoughts arise, you do not need to fight them. Make an effort to think positive thoughts, and the negative thoughts will disappear.

Character | Effort | Need | Time | Will | Think |

Austin Phelps

A great idea is usually original to more than one discoverer. Great ideas come when the world needs them. They surround the world's ignorance and press for admission.

Character | Ideas | Ignorance | World |

Robert M. Pirsig

So the thing to do when working on a motorcycle, as in any other task, is to cultivate the peace of mind which does not separate one’s self from one’s surroundings. When that is done successfully, then everything else follows naturally. Peace of mind produces right values, right values produce right thoughts. Right thoughts produce right actions and right actions produce work which will be a material reflection for others to see of the serenity at the center of it all.

Character | Mind | Peace | Reflection | Right | Self | Serenity | Will | Work |

Robert M. Pirsig

Programmes of a political nature are important and products of social quality that can be effective only if the underlying structure of social values is right. The social values are right only if the individual values are right. The place to improve the world is first in one’s own heart and head and hands, and then work outside from there.

Character | Heart | Important | Individual | Nature | Right | Work | World |

Francis Osborn

What you leave at your death let it be without controversy, else the lawyers will be your heirs.

Character | Controversy | Death | Will |

Henry Ross Perot

Each of us was placed here for a special purpose. I believe that it is each person’s responsibility to determine what he or she can do to make the world a better place - and then go out and do it... Take full responsibility for our actions. Risk failure.

Better | Character | Failure | Purpose | Purpose | Responsibility | Risk | World |

Achilles Poincelot

There are some people who think that all the world should share their misfortune, although they do not share in the sufferings of anybody else.

Character | Misfortune | People | World | Think |