This site is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Alan William Smolowe who gave birth to the creation of this database.
The test of friendship is assistance in adversity – and that, too, unconditional assistance. Cooperation which needs consideration is a commercial contract, and not friendship. Conditional cooperation is like adulterated cement which does not bind.
Adversity | Consideration | Cooperation | Friendship |
In the hour of adversity be not without hope for crystal rain falls from black clouds.
In time of prosperity friends will be plenty. In times of adversity not one among twenty.
Important rules to watch in living. Keep life simple. Avoid watching for the knock in your motor. Learn to like work. Have a good hobby. Learn to be satisfied. Like people, say cheerful pleasant things. Turn the defeat of adversity into victory. Met your problems with decision. Make the present moment a success. Always be planning something. Say “nuts” to irritations.
Adversity | Decision | Defeat | Good | Important | Life | Life | People | Present | Problems | Success | Work | Learn |
Prosperity does not exalt the wise man, nor does adversity cast him down.
Adversity | Man | Prosperity | Wise |
In times of prosperity the church administers; in times of adversity the church shepherds.
Adversity | Church | Prosperity |
Prosperity makes friends and adversity tries them.
Adversity | Prosperity | Friends |
In prosperity friends do not leave you unless desired, whereas in adversity they stay away of their own accord.
Adversity | Prosperity | Friends |
Prosperity is not without fears and distaste; and adversity is not without comforts and hope.
Adversity | Hope | Prosperity |
Prosperity doth best discover vice, but adversity doth best discover virtue.
Adversity | Prosperity | Virtue | Virtue |
The Virtue of Prosperity is Temperance; the Virtue of Adversity is Fortitude: which in Morals is the more Heroical Virtue.
Adversity | Fortitude | Prosperity | Virtue | Virtue |
To speak in a mean, the virtue of prosperity is temperance, the virtue of adversity is fortitude, which in morals is the more heroic virtue.
Adversity | Fortitude | Prosperity | Virtue | Virtue |
Misfortunes are, in morals, what bitters are in medicine: each is at first disagreeable; but as the bitters act as corrobarants to the stomach, so adversity chastens and ameliorates the disposition.