This site is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Alan William Smolowe who gave birth to the creation of this database.
English Divine, Founder of Methodism
"Don't tell me of your virtue... I tell you, every man has his price."
"Passion and prejudice govern the world; only under the name of reason. It is our part, by religion and reason joined, to counteract them all we can."
"Conquer desire and you will conquer fear. But as long as you are a slave you must be a coward."
"“Rule of Conduct.” Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can."
"Do all the good you can, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can, In all the places you can, At all the times you can, To all the people you can, As long as ever you can."
"Preach faith till you have it; and then, because you have it, you will preach faith."
"What is Christian perfection? The loving God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength. This implies that no wrong temper, none contrary to love, remains in the soul; and that all the thoughts, words, and actions are governed by pure love."
"Beware you be not swallowed up in books! An ounce of love is worth a pound of knowledge."
"What one generation tolerates, the next generation will embrace."
"Vice does not lose its character by becoming fashionable."
"Earn all you can, give all you can, save all you can."
"It cannot be that the people should grow in grace unless they give themselves to reading. A reading people will always be a knowing people. "
"God grant that I may never live to be useless."
"I observed, "Love is the fulfilling of the law, the end of the commandment." It is not only "the first and great" command, but all the commandments in one. "Whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, if there be any virtue, if there be any praise," they are all comprised in this one word, love."
"I value all things only by the price they shall gain in eternity."
"Though I am always in haste, I am never in a hurry."
"Every one, though born of God in an instant, yet undoubtedly grows by slow degrees."
"Though we cannot think alike, may we not love alike? May we not be of one heart, though we are not of one opinion? Without all doubt, we may. Herein all the children of God may unite, notwithstanding these smaller differences."
"Never dream of forcing men into the ways of God. Think yourself, and let think. Use no constraint in matters of religion. Even those who are farthest out of the way never compel to come in by any other means than reason, truth, and love."
"Beware you are not a fiery, persecuting enthusiast. Do not imagine that God has called you (just contrary to the spirit of Him you style your Master) to destroy men’s lives, and not to save them. Never dream of forcing men into the ways of God. Think yourself, and let think. Use no constraint in matters of religion. Even those who are farthest out of the way never compel to come in by any other means than reason, truth, and love."
"The longer I live, the larger allowances I make for human infirmities. I exact more from myself, and less from others. Go thou and do likewise!"