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

Thomas Jefferson

When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; that to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed; that whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness.

Earth | Events | God | Government | Mankind | Men | Nature | People | Respect | Right | Wisdom | Government | Respect | God | Truths |

John F. Kennedy, fully John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy

The nation was founded by men of many nations and backgrounds. It was founded on the principle that all men are created equal, and that the rights of every man are diminished when the rights of one man are threatened.

Man | Men | Nations | Rights | Wisdom |

John F. Kennedy, fully John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy

We have the power to make this the best generation of mankind in the history of the world - or make it the last.

History | Mankind | Power | Wisdom | World |

William James

Our minds grow in spots; and like grease-spots, the spots spread. But we let them spread as little as possible: we keep unaltered as much of our old knowledge, as many of our old prejudices and beliefs, as we can. We patch and tinker more than we renew.

Knowledge | Little | Wisdom | Old |

Roger L'Estrange, fully Sir Roger L'Estrange

There is not one grain the universe, either too much or too little, nothing to be added, nothing to be spared; nor so much as any one particle of it, that mankind may not be either the better or the worse for according as it is applied.

Better | Little | Mankind | Nothing | Universe | Wisdom |

R. D. Laing, fully Ronald David Laing

When the Copernican Revolution superseded the ancient Polemic world view, the earth took its rightful place as one planet among many. Man was no longer the center of the universe and though his self-image was deflated, he grew in maturity. In the same way, we must take our rightful place in nature - not as its self-centered and profligate "master" with the divine right of kings to exploit and despoil, but as one species living in harmony with the whole.

Earth | Exploit | Harmony | Man | Nature | Revolution | Right | Self | Universe | Wisdom | World |

Wanda Landowska

The most beautiful thing in the world is, precisely, the conjunction of learning and inspiration. Oh, the passion for research and the joy of discovery!

Inspiration | Joy | Learning | Passion | Research | Wisdom | World |

Georg Christoph Lichtenberg

The reason for the sublime simplicity in the works of nature lies all too often in the sublime shortsightedness in the observer.

Nature | Reason | Simplicity | Wisdom |

Søren Kierkegaard, fully Søren Aabye Kierkegaard

A man’s life begins with the illusion that a long, long time and w hole world lie before him, and he begins with the foolish conceit that he has plenty of time for all his many claims.

Illusion | Life | Life | Man | Plenty | Time | Wisdom | World |

Peter Mere Latham

We should always presume the disease to be curable, until its own nature prove it otherwise.

Disease | Nature | Wisdom |

Johann Kaspar Lavater

Where there is much pretension, much has been borrowed; nature never pretends.

Nature | Wisdom |

Robert Leighton

God hath many sharp-cutting instruments and rough files for the polishing of His jewels; and those He especially loves and means to make the most resplendent, He hath oftenest His tools upon.

God | Means | Wisdom |

Alphonse de Lamartine, fully Alphonse Marie Louis de Lamartine

Nature has given women two painful but heavenly gifts, which distinguish them, and often raise them above human nature - compassion and enthusiasm. By compassion, they devote themselves; by enthusiasm they exalt themselves.

Compassion | Distinguish | Enthusiasm | Human nature | Nature | Wisdom |

Johann Kaspar Lavater

If you wish to appear agreeable in society, you must consent to be taught many things which you already know.

Society | Wisdom |

Charles Kingsley

Science frees us in many ways... from the bodily terror which the savage feels. But she replaces that, in the minds of many, by a moral terror which is far more overwhelming.

Science | Terror | Wisdom |