This site is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Alan William Smolowe who gave birth to the creation of this database.
No matter how one's heart aches, one can do the necessary things and do them well.
It’s not the things that can be bought that are life’s richest treasures. It’s priceless little courtesies that money cannot measure. Each little act of graciousness or kindly little favor that fills the heart with gratitude leaves memories to savor.
Character | Gratitude | Heart | Life | Life | Little | Money |
The heart is a small thing, but desireth great matters. It is not sufficient for a kite’s dinner, yet the whole world is not sufficient for it.
Liberty is not to be found in any form of government, she is in the heart of the free man, he bears her with him everywhere.
Character | Government | Heart | Liberty | Man |
Lord Shaftesbury, Anthony Ashley Cooper, 3rd Earl of Shaftesbury
The most natural beauty in the world is honesty and moral truth. For all beauty is truth. True features make the beauty of the face true proportions, the beauty of architecture true measures, the beauty of harmony and music.
Beauty | Character | Harmony | Honesty | Truth | World | Beauty |
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 |
Sholem Aleichem, pen name of Sholem Yakovf Rabinowitz or Solomon Naumovich Rabinovich
When the heart is full, the eyes overflow.
All the kindness which a man puts out into the world works on the heart and thoughts of mankind, but we are so foolishly indifferent that we are never in earnest in the matter of kindness. We want to topple a great load over, and yet will not avail ourselves of a lever which would multiply our power a hundredfold.
Character | Heart | Kindness | Man | Mankind | Power | Will | World |
When the heart is won, the understanding is easily convinced.
Character | Heart | Understanding |
Lord Shaftesbury, Anthony Ashley Cooper, 3rd Earl of Shaftesbury
The heart is never neutral.
Jonathan Swift, pen names, M.B. Drapier, Lemuel Gulliver, Isaac Bickerstaff
Nothing more unqualifies a man to act iwth prudence, than a misfortune that is attended with shame and guilt.
Character | Guilt | Man | Misfortune | Nothing | Prudence | Prudence | Shame | Misfortune |