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

H. L. Mencken, fully Henry Louis Mencken

Every bachelor is a hero to some married woman.

Fear | Reason |

Gustave Flaubert

We were Red Romantics, perfectly ridiculous to be sure, but in full bloom. The little good which remains to me comes from that epoch.

Day | Work |

H. L. Mencken, fully Henry Louis Mencken

Democracy is the pathetic belief in the wisdom of collective ignorance.

Work |

H. L. Mencken, fully Henry Louis Mencken

To believe that Russia has got rid of the evils of capitalism takes a special kind of mind. It is the same kind that believes that a Holy Roller has got rid of sin.

Work |

Haile Selassie

He who would be a leader must pay the price in self-discipline and moral restraints. This details the correction and improvement of his personal character, the checking of passions and desires and an exemplary control of one's bodily needs and desires.

Work |

H. L. Mencken, fully Henry Louis Mencken

On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron.

Fear | Good |

H. L. Mencken, fully Henry Louis Mencken

The best years are the forties; after fifty a man begins to deteriorate, but in the forties he is at the maximum of his villainy.

Opinion |

Hans Rosling

If you have democracy, people will vote for washing machines. They love them!

Work |

Italian Proverbs

Still water breeds vermin.

Fear | Future | Hope | Think |

Italian Proverbs

Nothing ventured nothing gained.

Peace | Happiness |

Italian Proverbs

The dying cannot leave their wisdom or experience to their heirs.

Art | Control | Work | Art |

Italian Proverbs

No good lawyer ever goes to court himself.

Ability | Balance | Technology | Work |

Italian Proverbs

Saying is one thing, doing another.

Goals | People | Pleasure | Progress | Success | Work |

Italian Proverbs

The ass does not know the worth of this tail till he has lost it.

Books | Character | Effort | Hope | Judgment | Will | Work | Realism |

Italian Proverbs

One who makes his bed must lie in it.

Determination | People | Will | Work |

Italian Proverbs

t is better to ride a donkey that carries you than a horse that throws you.

Change | Opinion | Public |

Italian Proverbs

The devil is bad because he is old.

Ability | Age | Art | Control | Culture | Humor | Memory | Need | Time | Work | World | Art |

Italian Proverbs

The sun is still beautiful, though ready to set.

Wants | Work |

Italian Proverbs

Two women and a goose make a market.

Doubt | Irony | Life | Life | Means | Need | Plenty | Self | Superiority | Understanding | Work | World | Afraid |

Italian Proverbs

The same fire purifies gold and consumes straw.

Vision | Work |