This site is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Alan William Smolowe who gave birth to the creation of this database.
Paul Chatfield, pseudonym for Horace Smith
We may hold it slavish to dress according to the judgment of fools and the caprice of coxcombs; but are we not ourselves both when we are singular in our attire?
Judgment |
him. He now owns a small part of me, which I have freely and voluntarily given. Intelligent people discuss ideas. Fools discuss how people should behave… Intolerance is the only way to put an end to the doubts which disturb the spirit of human beings has always been… Intuition is really a sudden immersion of the soul into the universal current of life.
Intolerance | Intuition | People | Soul | Spirit |
Persius, fully Aulus Persius Flaccus NULL
To-morrow is the day when idlers work, and fools reform, and mortal men lay hold on heaven.
Philip Dormer Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield
Truth, but not the whole truth, must be the invariable principle of every man who hath either religion, honour, or prudence. Those who violate it, may be cunning, but they are not able. Lies and perfidy are the refuge of fools and cowards.
Wise men speak because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something.
Men |
Pope Boniface VIII, born Benedetto Gaetani NULL
Silence is the genius of fools and one of the virtues of the wise.
Genius |
Ralph Bunche, fully Ralph Johnson Bunche
We must fight as a race for everything that makes for a better country and a better world. We are dreaming idiots and trusting fools to do anything less.
Rebecca West, pen name of Mrs. Cicily Maxwell Andrews, born Fairfield, aka Dame Rebecca West
Yes, said Mamma, this is the worst of life, that love does not give us common sense but is a sure way of losing it. We love people, and we say that we are going to do more for them than friendship, but it makes such fools of us that we do far less; indeed sometimes what we do could be mistaken for the work of hatred.
Common Sense | Love | Sense | Work |
Rebecca West, pen name of Mrs. Cicily Maxwell Andrews, born Fairfield, aka Dame Rebecca West
We love people, and we say that we were going to do more for them than friendship, but it makes such fools of us that we do far less; indeed sometimes what we do could be mistaken for the work of hatred.
Richard Feynman, fully Richard Phillips Feynman
Ordinary fools are all right; you can talk to them, and try to help them out. But pompous fools -- guys who are fools and are covering it all over and impressing people as to how wonderful they are with all this hocus pocus -- THAT, I CANNOT STAND! An ordinary fool isn't a faker; an honest fool is all right. But a dishonest fool is terrible!
People |
R. D. Blackmore, fully Richard Doddridge Blackmore
May be we are not such fools as we look. But though we be, we are well content, so long as we may be two fools together.
You're all mad for words. Words are just farts from a lot of fools who have swallowed too many books. Give me things!
Words |
Robert Southwell, also Saint Robert Southwell
LOVE'S SERVILE LOT - LOVE, mistress is of many minds, Yet few know whom they serve ; They reckon least how little Love Their service doth deserve. The will she robbeth from the wit, The sense from reason's lore ; She is delightful in the rind, Corrupted in the core. She shroudeth vice in virtue's veil, Pretending good in ill ; She offereth joy, affordeth grief, A kiss where she doth kill. A honey-shower rains from her lips, Sweet lights shine in her face ; She hath the blush of virgin mind, The mind of viper's race. She makes thee seek, yet fear to find To find, but not enjoy : In many frowns some gliding smiles She yields to more annoy. She woos thee to come near her fire, Yet doth she draw it from thee ; Far off she makes thy heart to fry, And yet to freeze within thee. She letteth fall some luring baits For fools to gather up ; Too sweet, too sour, to every taste She tempereth her cup. Soft souls she binds in tender twist, Small flies in spinner's web ; She sets afloat some luring streams, But makes them soon to ebb. Her watery eyes have burning force ; Her floods and flames conspire : Tears kindle sparks, sobs fuel are, And sighs do blow her fire. May never was the month of love, For May is full of flowers ; But rather April, wet by kind, For love is full of showers. Like tyrant, cruel wounds she gives, Like surgeon, salve she lends ; But salve and sore have equal force, For death is both their ends. With soothing words enthralled souls She chains in servile bands ; Her eye in silence hath a speech Which eye best understands. Her little sweet hath many sours, Short hap immortal harms ; Her loving looks are murd'ring darts, Her song bewitching charms. Like winter rose and summer ice, Her joys are still untimely ; Before her Hope, behind Remorse : Fair first, in fine unseemly. Moods, passions, fancy's jealous fits Attend upon her train : She yieldeth rest without repose, And heaven in hellish pain. Her house is Sloth, her door Deceit, And slippery Hope her stairs ; Unbashful Boldness bids her guests, And every vice repairs. Her diet is of such delights As please till they be past ; But then the poison kills the heart That did entice the taste. Her sleep in sin doth end in wrath, Remorse rings her awake ; Death calls her up, Shame drives her out, Despairs her upshot make. Plough not the seas, sow not the sands, Leave off your idle pain ; Seek other mistress for your minds, Love's service is in vain.
Blush | Boldness | Death | Diet | Fear | Force | Good | Heart | Heaven | Hope | Little | Looks | Love | Mind | Pain | Past | Remorse | Rest | Sense | Service | Shame | Silence | Sin | Will | Words | Vice |
He was the freeman whom the truth made free; Who first of all, the bands of Satan broke; Who broke the bands of sin, and for his soul, In spite of fools consulted seriously.
War is an ill thing, as I surely know. But 'twould be an ill world for weaponless dreamers if evil men were not now and then slain.
Woman |
There are some things which it is madness not to try to know but which it is almost as much madness to try to know.