This site is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Alan William Smolowe who gave birth to the creation of this database.
For how might sweetness ever have been known to him who never tasted bitterness? Felicity exists for those alone who first have suffered sorrow and distress... By opposites does one in wisdom grow.
Bitterness | Character | Distress | Sorrow | Wisdom |
Howard Cosell, fully Howard William Cosell, born Howard William Cohen
Courage takes many forms. there is physical courage, there is moral courage. Then there is a still higher type of courage - the courage to brave pain, to live with it, to never let others know of it and to still find joy in life; to wake up in the morning with an enthusiasm for the day ahead.
Character | Courage | Day | Enthusiasm | Joy | Life | Life | Pain |
John Chrysostom, fully Saint John Chrysostom
Words cannot express the joy which a friend imparts; they only can know who have experienced. A friend is dearer than the light of heaven, for it would be better for us that the sun were exhausted than that we should be without friends.
Better | Character | Friend | Heaven | Joy | Light | Words |
The great duty of God’s children is to love one another. This duty on earth takes the name and form of the law of humanity. We are to recognize all men as brethren, no matter where born, or under what sky, or institution or religion they may live. Every man belongs to the race, and owes a duty to mankind... Men cannot, by combining themselves into narrower or larger societies, sever the sacred, blessed bond which joins them to their kind... The law of humanity must reign; over the assertion of all human rights.
Assertion | Character | Children | Duty | Earth | God | Humanity | Law | Love | Man | Mankind | Men | Race | Religion | Rights | Sacred | Blessed |
Chayim of Volozhin, also Chaim ben Yuitzchok of Volozhin or Chaim Ickovits NULL
Be careful that joy does not turn into frivolity which leads to transgressing.
The more kindness we heap upon one who hates us, the more we arm him to betray us.
If there is any person whom you dislike, that is the one of whom you should never speak.
Miguel de Cervantes, fully Miguel de Cervantes Saaversa
Every one is responsible for his own acts.
Persecution was at least a sign of personal interest. Tolerance is composed of nine parts of apathy to one of brotherly love.