This site is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Alan William Smolowe who gave birth to the creation of this database.
Leo Tolstoy, aka Count Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy or Tolstoi
The improvement of life was only accomplished to the extent to which it was based on a change of consciousness, that is, to the extent to which the law of violence was replaced in men’s consciousness, that is to the extent to which the law of violence was replaced in men’s consciousness by the law of love.
Change | Consciousness | Improvement | Law | Life | Life | Love | Men |
The improvement of understanding is for two ends: first, our own increase of knowledge; secondly, to enable us to deliver that knowledge to others.
Ends | Improvement | Knowledge | Understanding |
Bertrand Russell, fully Bertrand Arthur William Russell, 3rd Earl Russell
If an international system could be established which would remove the fear of war, the improvement in everyday mentality of everyday people would be enormous and very rapid. Fear, at present, overshadows the world.
Fear | Improvement | People | Present | System | War | World |
The preservation of peace and the improvement of the lot of all people require us to have faith in the rationality of humans. If we have this faith and if we pursue understanding, we have not the promise but at least the possibility of success. We should not be misled by promises. Humanity in all its history has repeatedly escaped disaster by a hair’s breadth. Total security has never been available to anyone. To expect it is unrealistic; to imagine that it can exist is to invite disaster.
Faith | History | Humanity | Improvement | Peace | People | Promise | Rationality | Security | Success | Understanding |
James Froude, fully James Anthony Froude
Human improvement is from within outward.
Reason is progressive; instinct, stationary. Five thousand years have added no improvement to the hive of the bee, nor the house of the beaver.
Improvement | Instinct | Reason |
John Kenneth Galbraith, aka "Ken"
People are the common denominator of progress. So… no improvement is possible with unimproved people, and advance is certain when people are liberated and educated. It would be wrong to dismiss the importance of roads, railroads, power plants, mills and the other familiar furniture of economic development. . . . But we are coming to realize . . . that there is certain sterility in economic monuments that stand alone in a sea of illiteracy. Conquest of illiteracy comes first.
Conquest | Improvement | People | Power | Progress | Wrong |
Religion, in its purity, is not so much a pursuit as a temper; or rather it is a temper, leading to the pursuit of all that is high and holy. Its foundation is faith; its action, works; its temper, holiness; its aim, obedience to God in improvement of self, and benevolence to men.
Action | Benevolence | Faith | God | Improvement | Men | Obedience | Purity | Religion | Self | Temper | God |
Those only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happiness; on the happiness of others; on the improvement of mankind, even on some art or pursuit, followed not as a means but as itself an ideal end. Aiming this at something else, they find happiness by the way... Ask yourself whether you are happy, and you cease to be so. The only chance is to treat, not happiness, but some end external to it, as the purpose of life.
Art | Chance | Happy | Improvement | Life | Life | Mankind | Means | Object | Purpose | Purpose | Art | Happiness |
The spirit of improvement is not always a spirit of liberty, for it may aim at forcing improvement on an unwilling people.
Improvement | Liberty | People | Spirit |
Happiness is the test of al rules of conduct and the end of life. But… this end was only to be attained by not making it the direct end. Those only are happy, I thought, who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happiness; on the happiness of others, on the improvement of mankind, even on some art or pursuit, followed not as a means, but as itself an ideal end. Aiming thus at something else, they find happiness by the way.
Art | Conduct | Happy | Improvement | Life | Life | Mankind | Means | Object | Thought | Art | Happiness |
Raising the self-esteem of the minority groups is one of the most strategic means for the improvement of inter-group relations.
Esteem | Improvement | Means | Self | Self-esteem |
Twelve Things to Remember: The value of time. The success of perseverance. The pleasure of working. The dignity of simplicity. The worth of character. The power of kindness. The influence of example. The obligation of duty. The wisdom of economy. The virtue of patience. The improvement of talent. The joy of originating.
Character | Dignity | Duty | Example | Improvement | Influence | Joy | Kindness | Obligation | Patience | Perseverance | Pleasure | Power | Simplicity | Success | Time | Virtue | Virtue | Wisdom | Worth | Value |
Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, native form is Csíkszentmihályi Mihály
One difficulty about achieving social improvement is that we tend to uncritically regard any advance in either differentiation or in integration as a good thing. If a new law increases freedom, it must be progress, as is a new movement that fosters the feeling of solidarity among people. yet neither of these programs is likely to improve matters without the complementary contribution of the other. Complexity requires the synergy of these dialectically opposed force; a gain in only one is likely to promote confusion and chaos. We think of social entropy as being caused by a loss of liberty or a loss of common values; but gains in either at the expense of its complement are just as dangerous.
Difficulty | Force | Freedom | Good | Improvement | Integration | Law | Liberty | People | Progress | Regard | Loss | Think |
Every man must strive first for the improvement of his own character, and then of the character of others.
Character | Improvement | Man |
The system of equality...must result from, rather than precede, the moral improvement of humankind.
Equality | Improvement | System |
Education has two branches - one of gymnastic, which is concerned with the body, and the other of music, which is designed for the improvement of the soul. And gymnastic has also two branches - dancing and wrestling; and one sort of dancing imitates muscial recitation, and aims at preserving dignity and freedom, the other aims at producing health, agility, and beauty in the limbs and parts of the body, giving the proper flexion and extension to each of them, a harmonious motion being diffused everywhere, and forming suitabile accompaniment to the dance.
Aims | Beauty | Body | Dignity | Education | Freedom | Giving | Health | Improvement | Music | Soul | Beauty |
Benjamin Collins Brodie, fully Sir Benjamin Collins Brodie, 1st Baronet
Nothing in this world is so good as usefulness. It binds your fellow-creatures to you, and you to them; it tends to the improvement of your own character; and it gives you a real importance in society, much beyond what any artificial station can bestow.
Character | Good | Improvement | Nothing | Society | Usefulness | World |
Isaac Newton, fully Sir Isaac Newton
If I have made any improvement in the sciences (any valuable discoveries) , it is owing more to patient attention than to anything beside.
Attention | Improvement |