This site is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Alan William Smolowe who gave birth to the creation of this database.
I count him braver who overcomes his desires than he who overcomes his enemies; for the hardest victory is the victory over self.
Self |
A young man is not a proper hearer of lectures on political science; for he is inexperienced in the actions that occur in life, but its discussions start from these and are about these; and further, since he tends to follow his passions, his study will be vain and unprofitable, because the end aimed at is not knowledge but action. And it makes no difference whether he is young in years or youthful in character; the defect does not depend on time, but on his living, and pursuing each successive object, as passion directs. For to such persons, as to the incontinent, knowledge brings no profit; but to those who desire and act in accordance with a rational principle knowledge about such matters will be of great benefit.
Action | Character | Desire | Knowledge | Life | Life | Man | Object | Passion | Science | Study | Time | Will |
There is wide difference between the original thinker and the merely learned man.
Man |
It is not so difficult a task to plant new truths as to root out old errors, for there is this paradox in men: they run after that which is new, but are prejudiced in favor of that which is old... A truth that is merely acquired from others only clings to us as a limb added to the body, or as a false tooth, or a wax nose. A truth we have acquired by our own mental exertions, is like our natural limbs, which really belong to us. This is exactly the difference between an original thinker and the mere learned man.
The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will.
We find that the essence of human society consists in a common self, a life and will, which belong to and are exercised by the society as such, or by the individuals in society as such; it makes no difference which expression we choose. The reality of this common self, in the action of the political whole, receives the name of the ‘general will’.
Action | Life | Life | Reality | Self | Society | Will | Society |
Bertrand Russell, fully Bertrand Arthur William Russell, 3rd Earl Russell
Since no way can be found for deciding a difference in values, the conclusion is forced upon us that the difference is one of tastes, not one as to any objective truth.
Truth |
In proportion as our own mind is enlarged we discover a greater number of men of originality. Commonplace people see no difference between one man and another.
Man | Men | Mind | Originality | People |
Bhagavad Gītā, simply known as Gita NULL
Inner peace is beyond victory or defeat.
The more intelligent a man is, the more originality he discovers in men. Ordinary people see no difference between men.
Man | Men | Originality | People |
The great intellect one has, the more originality one finds in men. Ordinary persons find no difference between men.
Men | Originality | Intellect |
It is certain that the soul is either mortal or immortal. The decision of this question must make a total difference in the principles of morals. Yet philosophers have arranged their moral system entirely independent of this. What an extraordinary blindness!
There is this difference between happiness and wisdom; that those that think of themselves as the happiest person, really is so; but they that think themselves the wisest, are generally the greatest fool.
We may doubt the existence of matter, if we please, and like Berkeley deny it, without subjecting ourselves to the shame of a very conclusive confutation; but there is this remarkable difference between matter and mind, that he that doubts the existence of mind, by doubting proves it.
There is a difference between the two temporal blessings - health and money; money is the most envied, but the least enjoyed; health is the most enjoyed, but the least envied; and this superiority of the latter is still more obvious when we reflect that the poorest man would not part with health for money, but the richest would gladly part with all his money for health.
Blessings | Health | Man | Money | Superiority |