This site is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Alan William Smolowe who gave birth to the creation of this database.
Rudolf Steiner, fully Rudolf Joseph Lorenz Steiner
In every man there are latent faculties by means of which he can acquire for himself knowledge of the higher worlds.
M. C. Swabey, fully Marie Taylor Collins Swabey
If consciousness means what it claims to mean, not everything of worth in the World is traceable to an origin with Man, reference to Man, or application to Man’s use.
Consciousness | Man | Means | World | Worth |
Love doesn’t mean doing extraordinary or heroic things. It means knowing how to do ordinary things with tenderness.
Knowing | Love | Means | Tenderness |
The Torah preceded creation in that it was the idea behind creation. It is the primordial knowledge of existence. It is the idea to which life is nothing more than a means. God is eternal, and the temporary nature of the physical creation is contradictory to eternity. Creation, therefore, it not an end in itself; it is a means. It is a means for giving the part of creation made in the Divine image – mankind – the opportunity to earn a share with Hashem in eternity.
Eternal | Eternity | Existence | Giving | God | Knowledge | Life | Life | Mankind | Means | Nature | Nothing | Opportunity | God | Torah |
Aubrey de Vere, fully Aubrey Albericus de Vere NULL
It is easy to be honest enough not to be hanged. To be really honest means to subdue one’s prepossessions, ideals - stating things fairly, not humoring your argument - doing justice to your enemies... making confession whether you can afford it or not; refusing unmerited praise; looking painful truths in the face.
Argument | Enough | Ideals | Justice | Means | Praise | Truths |
Obert C. Tanner, fully Obert Clark Tanner
Humanity is in a precarious balance between the forces of violence and the forces of peace. It is by no means clear at this time which of these forces will prevail. We do not ask, however, whether religion will not become an aid to the forces of peace or cooperation.
Aid | Balance | Cooperation | Humanity | Means | Peace | Religion | Time | Will |
Mundaka Upanishad, or or the Mundakopanishad
By means of higher knowledge, the wise behold every where the changeless Reality – which transcends the senses, which is uncaused, which is indefinable, which is all pervading and subtler than the subtlest, which is everlasting and is the source of all things and beings.
What is it but blasphemy when God is merely my means to an end? That takes its toll. If we turn God into a puppet of our desires (even when that happens by the pious route of prayer) then he shuts up his heaven and we find ourselves thrown back into the silence of our unredeemed life.
Blasphemy | God | Heaven | Life | Life | Means | Pious | Prayer | Silence | God |
Leo Tolstoy, aka Count Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy or Tolstoi
I sit on a man’s back, choking him and making him carry me, and yet assure myself and others that I am very sorry for him and wish to lighten his load by all possible means – except by getting off his back.
Eckhart Tolle, born Ulrich Leonard Tolle
To do whatever is required of you in any situation without it becoming a role that you identify with is an essential lesson in the art of living that each one of us is here to learn. You become most powerful in whatever you do if the action is performed for its own sake rather than as a means to protect, enhance, or conform to your role identity.
We should not feel that something else gives life meaning, even some transcendental purpose… The religious aspect of life needs to be re-conceptualized to avoid the error of turning life into only a means to Heaven, Nirvana, or union with God.
Error | God | Heaven | Life | Life | Meaning | Means | Purpose | Purpose |
The Path is one for all; the means to reach the Goal must vary with the Pilgrims.
Means |
Do all the good you can, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can, In all the places you can, At all the times you can, To all the people you can, As long as ever you can.