This site is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Alan William Smolowe who gave birth to the creation of this database.
Hypocrisy is folly. It is much easier, safer, and pleasanter to be the thing which a man aims to appear, than to keep up the appearance of what he is not.
Miguel de Cervantes, fully Miguel de Cervantes Saaversa
The knowledge of thyself will preserve thee from vanity.
Acts of virtue ripen into habits; and the goodly and permanent result is the formation or establishment of a virtuous character.
G. K. Chesterton, fully Gilbert Keith Chesterton
There is a great man who makes every man feel small. But the real great man is the man who makes every man feel great.
Miguel de Cervantes, fully Miguel de Cervantes Saaversa
If thou takes virtue for the rule of life, and valuest thyself upon acting in all things comfortably thereto, thou wilt have no cause to envy lords and princes; for blood is inherited, but virtue is common property and may be acquired by all; it has, moreover, an intrinsic worth, which blood has not.
Cause | Character | Envy | Life | Life | Property | Rule | Virtue | Virtue | Worth |
Enthusiasm is a virtue rarely to be met with in seasons of calm and unruffled prosperity.—It flourishes in adversity, kindles in the hour of danger, and awakens to deeds of renown.—The terrors of persecution only serve to quicken the energy of its purposes.—It swells in proud integrity, and, great in the purity of its cause, it can scatter defiance amidst hosts of enemies.
Character | Deeds | Defiance | Energy | Enthusiasm | Prosperity | Purity | Virtue | Virtue | Deeds |
In judging others, folks will work overtime for no pay.
Free and fair discussion will ever be found the firmest friend to truth.
Character | Discussion | Friend | Truth | Will |
Stuart Cloete, fully Edward Fairly Stuart Graham
Happiness is a hard thing because it is achieved only by making others happy.