This site is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Alan William Smolowe who gave birth to the creation of this database.
What is it to be wise? 'Tis but to know how little can be known - to see all other's faults and feel our own.
Madame Swetchine, fully Anne Sophie Swetchine née Sophia Petrovna Soïmonov or Soymanof
Our faults afflict us more than our good deeds console. Pain is ever uppermost in the conscience as in the heart.
Character | Conscience | Deeds | Good | Heart | Pain | Deeds |
Ten thousand of the greatest faults in our neighbors are of less consequence to us than one of the smallest in ourselves.
However fastidious we may be in love, we forgive more faults in love than in friendship.
Lewis Dilwyn, fully Monsignor Dilwyn W Lewis
People are commonly so employed in pointing out faults in those before them, as to forget that some behind may at the same time be descanting on their own.
Lord Dunsany, fully Edward John Moreton Drax Plunkett, 18th Baron of Dunsany
Man knows his littleness; his own mountains remind him; but the dreams of man make up for our faults and failings; for the brevity of our lives, for the narrowness of our scope; they leap over boundaries and are away and away.
François Fénelon, fully Francois de Salignac de la Mothe-Fénelon
Never let us be discouraged with ourselves. It is not when we are conscious of our faults that we are the most wicked; on the contrary, we are less so. We see by a brighter light; and let us remember for our consolation, that we never perceive our sins till we begin to cure them.
Consolation | Light | Wisdom |
We have in America the largest public school system on earth, the most expensive college buildings, the most extensive curriculum, but nowhere else is education so blind to its objectives, so indifferent to any specific outcome as in America. One trouble has been at the repression of faults rather than creation of virtues.
Earth | Education | Objectives | Public | System | Wisdom | Trouble |
Al-Jāḥiẓ, full name Abū ʿUthman ʿAmr ibn Baḥr al-Kinānī al-Baṣrī NULL
Man indeed hates the one whom he knows, turns against the one whom he sees, opposes the one whom he resembles, and becomes observant of the faults of those with whom he mingles; the greater the love and intimacy, the greater the hatred and estrangement.
Alī ibn Abī Ṭālib, simply known as Ali NULL
One who praises you for qualities you lack, will next be found blaming you for faults not yours.
Sarada Devi, fully Sri Sarada Devi, born Saradamani Mukhopadhyaya
If you want peace, do not see the faults of others; instead, see your own faults.