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

Gustave Flaubert

There are three things in the world I love most: the sea, Hamlet, and Don Giovanni.

Time |

Gustave Flaubert

What wretched poverty of language! To compare stars to diamonds!

Little | Right | Tears | Time |

Gustavo Gutiérrez

The struggle for a just world in which there is no oppression, servitude, or alienated work will signify the coming of the kingdom ... The complete encounter with the Lord will make an end to history, but it will take place in history.

Position | Will |

Gustave Flaubert

When all was over at the cemetery Charles returned to the house. There was no one downstairs. He went up into the bedroom and saw her dress hanging up at the foot of the bed. Then, leaning against the secretaire, he remained there till it was dark, lost in sorrowful meditation. After all, she had loved him.

Life | Life |

H. L. Mencken, fully Henry Louis Mencken

A fool who, after plain warning, persists in dosing himself with dangerous drugs should be free to do so, for his death is a benefit to the race in general.

Earth | Heart | Life | Life | Man | Smile | Will | Worth |

H. L. Mencken, fully Henry Louis Mencken

I have often argued that a poet more than thirty years old is simply an overgrown child. I begin to suspect that there may be some truth in it.

Will |

Gustave Flaubert

Though she had no one to write to, she had bought herself a blotter, a writing case, a pen and envelopes; she would dust off her whatnot, look at herself in the mirror, take up a book, and then begin to daydream and let it fall to her lap? She wanted to die. And she wanted to live in Paris.

Little | Reading | Time | Writing |

H. L. Mencken, fully Henry Louis Mencken

As I look back over a misspent life, I find myself more and more convinced that I had more fun doing news reporting than in any other enterprise. It is really the life of kings.

Will |

H. L. Mencken, fully Henry Louis Mencken

Believing passionately in the palpably not true... is the chief occupation of mankind.

Day | Will |

H. L. Mencken, fully Henry Louis Mencken

Before a man speaks it is always safe to assume that he is a fool. After he speaks, it is seldom necessary to assume it.

Beginning | Life | Life |

Gustavo Gutiérrez

The building of a just society means overcoming every obstacle to the creation of authentic peace.

Will |

Gustavo Gutiérrez

The complete encounter with the Lord will mark an end to history, but it will take place in history.

Thinking | Will |

H. L. Mencken, fully Henry Louis Mencken

How little it takes to make life unbearable... A pebble in the shoe, a cockroach in the spaghetti, a woman's laugh.

Enemy | Friend | Will | Think |

H. L. Mencken, fully Henry Louis Mencken

I believe in the capacity of man to conquer his world, and to find out what it is made of, and how it is run.

Future | Right | Will |

H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Life is slippery. We all need a loving hand to hold onto.

Enemy | Friend | Will | Think |

H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Watch the sunrise at least once a year, put a lot of marshmallows in your hot chocolate, lie on your back and look at the stars, never buy a coffee table you can't put your feet on, never pass up a chance to jump on a trampoline, don't overlook life's small joys while searching for the big ones.

Will |

Gustave Flaubert

The principal thing in this world is to keep one's soul aloft.

Will | Words |

Gustavo Gutiérrez

Is the Church fulfilling a purely religious role when by its silence or friendly relationships it lends legitimacy to dictatorial and oppressive government?

Children | Will |

H. L. Mencken, fully Henry Louis Mencken

A man's women folk, whatever their outward show of respect for his merit and authority, always regard him secretly as an ass, and with something akin to pity.

Time |

H. L. Mencken, fully Henry Louis Mencken

A Sunday school is a prison in which children do penance for the evil conscience of their parents.

Death | Life | Life |