This site is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Alan William Smolowe who gave birth to the creation of this database.
The crown and glory of life is character. It is the noblest possession of a man, constituting a rank in itself, and estate in the general good will; dignifying every station, and exacting every position in society. It exercises a greater power than wealth and secures all the honor without the jealousies of fame. It carries with it an influence which always tells; for it is the result of proved honor, rectitude and consistency - qualities which, perhaps more than any others, command the general confidence and respect of mankind.
Character | Confidence | Consistency | Fame | Glory | Good | Honor | Influence | Life | Life | Man | Mankind | Position | Power | Qualities | Rank | Respect | Society | Wealth | Will | Respect |
Whatever you have received more than others - in health, in talents, in ability, in success, in a pleasant childhood, in harmonious conditions of home life - all this you must not take to yourself as a matter of course. In gratitude for your good fortune, you must render in return some sacrifice of your own life for another life.
Ability | Character | Childhood | Fortune | Good | Gratitude | Health | Life | Life | Sacrifice | Success |
Fulton Sheen, fully Archbishop Fulton John Sheen
There is no surer formula for discontent than to try to satisfy our cravings for the ocean of Infinite Love from the teacup of finite satisfactions.
Character | Discontent | Love |
Regardless of how much honor he receives, an honor-seeker will feel upset if even one person does not show him the honor and approval he demands. There will never be an amount of honor that will satisfy him. Physical desires have a saturation point, but the desire for honor is based on falsehood and illusion and is really nothing in itself.
Character | Desire | Falsehood | Honor | Illusion | Nothing | Will | Approval |
We usually fall asleep in our relationships... not because we are tired of love but so we can dream of new relationships. Life, however, is a work in progress, and love's challenge is not to see people as they once were but as they might be. People who grow old can also grow love.
Challenge | Character | Life | Life | Love | People | Progress | Work | Old |
Lydia Sigourney, fully Lydia Huntley Sigourney, née Lydia Howard Huntley
Self-control is promoted by humility. Pride is a fruitful source of uneasiness. It keeps the mind in disquiet. Humility is the antidote to this evil.
Character | Control | Evil | Humility | Mind | Pride | Self | Self-control |
Even though we personally should do what we can to flee from honor, we still have an obligation to treat other people with honor and respect.
Character | Honor | Obligation | People | Respect |
The test of a vocation is the love of the drudgery it involves.
Avraham-Haim Shag, born Avraham-Haim Tzvebner
There is no greater fool than one who makes his happiness based on receiving honor and approval. Such a person’s happiness is always in the hands of others... Such a person is dependent on other people his enter life and will frequently suffer humiliation. Only an idiot would knowingly and willingly put himself in a situation where he will constantly be in need of others and will humiliate himself for a dubious and questionable benefit.
Character | Honor | Life | Life | Need | People | Will | Happiness |