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

William James

Act in earnest and you will become earnest in all you do.

Character | Circumstances | Security | Will | Woman |

François de La Rochefoucauld, François VI, Duc de La Rochefoucauld, Prince de Marcillac, Francois A. F. Rochefoucauld-Liancourt

A great many men's gratitude is nothing but a secret desire to hook in more valuable kindnesses hereafter.

Good | Will | Woman |

François de La Rochefoucauld, François VI, Duc de La Rochefoucauld, Prince de Marcillac, Francois A. F. Rochefoucauld-Liancourt

A work can become modern only if it is first postmodern. Postmodernism thus understood is not modernism at its end but in the nascent state, and this state is constant.

Woman |

Douglas William Jerrold

Keep your eyes and ears open, if you desire to get on in the world.

Belief | Woman |

François de La Rochefoucauld, François VI, Duc de La Rochefoucauld, Prince de Marcillac, Francois A. F. Rochefoucauld-Liancourt

There is nearly as much ability requisite to know how to profit by good advice as to know how to act for one's self.

Woman |

François de La Rochefoucauld, François VI, Duc de La Rochefoucauld, Prince de Marcillac, Francois A. F. Rochefoucauld-Liancourt

The man who thinks he can do without the world is indeed mistaken; but the man who thinks the world cannot do without him is mistaken even worse.

Man | Will | Woman |

François de La Rochefoucauld, François VI, Duc de La Rochefoucauld, Prince de Marcillac, Francois A. F. Rochefoucauld-Liancourt

It is with an old love as it is with old age a man lives to all the miseries, but is dead to all the pleasures.

Woman |

François de La Rochefoucauld, François VI, Duc de La Rochefoucauld, Prince de Marcillac, Francois A. F. Rochefoucauld-Liancourt

Youth changes its inclinations through heat of blood; old age perseveres in them through the power of habit.

Woman |

William Shakespeare

O my lord, Press not a falling man too far! 'Tis virtue His faults lie open to the laws; let them, Not you, correct him.

Business | Good | Lord | Men | Offense | Rights | Spirit | Woman | Business |

William Shakespeare

One, whose subdu'd eyes, Albeit unused to the melting mood, Drop tears as fast as the Arabian trees Their medicinal gum.

Good | Woman |

Ban Zhao, courtesy name Huiban

With whole-hearted devotion to sew and to weave; to love not gossip and silly laughter; in cleanliness and order to prepare the wine and food for serving guests, may be called the characteristics of womanly work.

Dispute | Docility | Obedience | Right | Wishes | Woman |

Murasaki Shikibu, aka Lady Murasaki

The hanging gate, of something like trelliswork, was propped on a pole, and he could see that the house was tiny and flimsy. He felt a little sorry for the occupants of such a place--and then asked himself who in this world had a temporary shelter.

Better | Cause | Enough | Generosity | Guidance | Husband | Little | Magnanimity | Man | Means | Memory | Patience | Quiet | Resentment | Wife | Will | Woman | Guidance | Guilty |

Ban Zhao, courtesy name Huiban

Now examine the gentlemen of the present age. They only know thar wives must be controlled, and that the husband's rules of conduct manifesting his authority must be established. They therefore teach their boys to read books and study histories. But they do not in the least understand that husbands and masters must also be served, and that the proper relationship and the rites should be maintained. Yet only to teach men and not to teach women -- is that not ignoring the essential relation between them? According to the "Rites," it is the rule to begin to teach children to read at the age of eight years, and by the age of fifteen years they ought then to be ready for cultural training. Only why should it not be that girls' education as well as boys' be according to this principle?

Disgrace | Life | Life | Reputation | Woman |

Ban Zhao, courtesy name Huiban

Divorce and dishonor will be unavoidable.

Man | Woman |

Sei Shōnagon

When crossing a river in bright moonlight, I love to see the water scatter in showers of crystal under the oxen's feet.

Speech | Wants | Woman |

Ban Zhao, courtesy name Huiban

To choose her words with care; to avoid vulgar language; to speak at appropriate times; and nor to weary others with much conversation, may be called the characteristics of womanly words.

Evil | Life | Life | Maxims | Respect | Rites | Woman | Respect |

Ban Zhao, courtesy name Huiban

No woman who observes these three fundamentals of life has ever had a bad reputation or has fallen into disgrace. If a woman fail to observe them, how can her name be honored; how can she but bring disgrace upon herself?

Day | Dread | Woman |

Ban Zhao, courtesy name Huiban

As Yin and Yang are not of the same nature, so man and woman have different characteristics. The distinctive quality of the Yang is rigidity; the function of the Yin is yielding. Man is honored for strength; a woman is beautiful on account of her gentleness. Hence there arose the common saying: "A man though born like a wolf may, it is feared, become a weak monstrosity; a woman though born like a mouse may, it is feared, become a tiger."

Appearance | Need | Virtue | Virtue | Woman | Words | Work |