This site is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Alan William Smolowe who gave birth to the creation of this database.
We are easily comforted for the misfortunes of our friends, when those misfortunes give us an occasion of expressing our affection and solicitude.
Some persons of weak understanding are so sensible of that weakness, as to be able to make a good use of it.
People |
However great the advantages which nature bestows on us, it is not she alone, but fortune in conjunction with her, which makes heroes.
It is not expedient or wise to examine our friends too closely; few persons are raised in our esteem by a close examination.
Enough |
We love everything on our own account; we even follow our own taste and inclination when we prefer our friends to ourselves; and yet it is this preference alone that constitutes true and perfect friendship.
If you cannot find peace in yourself, it is useless to look for it elsewhere.
The refusal of praise is only the wish to be praised twice.
Conversation | People | Reason | Thinking |
The vices enter into the composition of the virtues, as poisons into that of medicines. Prudence collects and arranges them, and uses them beneficially against the ills of life.
The accent of a man's native country remains in his mind and his heart, as it does in his speech.
It is more shameful to distrust one's friends than to be deceived by them
Wise |
People would never fall in love if they hadn't heard love talked about.
There are people who, like new songs, are in vogue only for a time.
We are more often treacherous, through weakness than through calculation.
Happy |
It's no good trying to keep up old friendships. It's painful for both sides. The fact is, one grows out of people, and the only thing is to face it.
Wise |
People who think they can live mean penance others lie to ourselves, but those who think other people cannot live without him be wrong again.
There are very few people who are not ashamed of having been in love when they no longer love each other.
We give advice, but we cannot give the wisdom to profit by it.
Habit |
If we judge love by most of its effects, it resembles rather hatred than affection.
O, how wretched is that poor man that hangs on princes' favors! There is betwixt that smile we would aspire to, that sweet aspect of princes, and their ruin, more pangs and fears than wars or women have; and when he falls, he falls like Lucifer, never to hope again.