This site is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Alan William Smolowe who gave birth to the creation of this database.
Subconsciously (particularly in the West), we still expect that limitless expansion - moving on, growing, and building a place of our own – will always be the intrinsic state of affairs. Expansion is necessary for life’s continued development – even expansion into space, throughout our galaxy and into others beyond. Evolutionary change occurs only when possible and advantageous; when niches open up, when food supplies vary, or when a mutation confers a bonus. If niches never alter, change brings penalty, not reward. If we choose zero growth, if we immobilize our niche, we will cease evolving. Without challenge, we do not advance.
Challenge | Change | Growth | Life | Life | Reward | Space | Will |
Samuel Johnson, aka Doctor Johnson
Poverty is a great enemy to human happiness; it certainly destroys liberty, and it makes some virtues impracticable and others extremely difficult.
Lao Tzu, ne Li Urh, also Laotse, Lao Tse, Lao Tse, Lao Zi, Laozi, Lao Zi, La-tsze
Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength; mastering yourself is true power. If you realize you have enough, you are truly rich.
Enough | Intelligence | Knowing | Power | Strength | Wisdom |
Lao Tzu, ne Li Urh, also Laotse, Lao Tse, Lao Tse, Lao Zi, Laozi, Lao Zi, La-tsze
Fame or integrity: which is more important? Money or happiness: which is more valuable? Success or failure: which is more destructive? If you look to others for fulfillment, you will never be truly fulfilled. If you happiness depends on money you will never be happy with yourself. Be content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.
Failure | Fame | Fulfillment | Happy | Important | Integrity | Money | Nothing | Success | Will | World | Happiness |
Lao Tzu, ne Li Urh, also Laotse, Lao Tse, Lao Tse, Lao Zi, Laozi, Lao Zi, La-tsze
He who is able to conquer others is powerful; he who is able to conquer himself is more powerful.
Dalai Lama, born Tenzin Gyatso NULL
If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.
Compassion | Happy | Practice |
Lao Tzu, ne Li Urh, also Laotse, Lao Tse, Lao Tse, Lao Zi, Laozi, Lao Zi, La-tsze
The sage does not accumulate for himself. The more he gives to others, the more he possesses of his own. The way of Heaven is to benefit others and not to injure.
Heaven |
Golda Meir, originally named Goldie Mabovitch, later Goldie Myerson
There’s no difference between one’s killing and making decisions that will send others to kill. It’s exactly the same thing, or even worse.
We are obliged to love one another. We are not strictly bound to 'like' one another. Love governs the will: 'liking' is a matter of sense and sensibility. Nevertheless, if we really love others it will not be too hard to like them also. If we wait for some people to become agreeable or attractive before we begin to love them, we will never begin. If we are content to give them a cold impersonal 'charity' that is merely a matter of obligation, we will not trouble to understand them or to sympathize with them at all. And in that case we will not really love them, because love implies an efficacious will not only to do good to others exteriorly but also to find some good in them to which we can respond.
Good | Love | People | Sense | Will | Trouble | Understand |
Douglas Meeks, also M. Douglas Meeks
The mystery of idolatry is that persons reflect what they possess. Idolatry is being possessed by a possession and thereby refusing God’s claim on oneself and shirking one’s responsibility toward others in the community.
God | Mystery | Responsibility |
Vince Lombardi, fully Vincent Thomas "Vince" Lombardi
The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will.
Mary Lyon, fully Mary Mason Lyon
Nine-tenths of our suffering is caused by others not thinking so much of us as we think they ought.
Mao Tse-tung, alternatively Zedong, Ze dong, aka Chairman Mao
Complacency is the enemy. We cannot really learn anything until we rid ourselves of complacency. Our attitude towards ourselves should be “insatiable in learning” and towards others to be “tireless in teaching.”
Complacency | Enemy | Learning | Learn |
A sound belief is always accompanied by a sane skepticism. It is only by disbelieving in some things that we can ever believe in others things. Faith does not mean credulity.
Belief | Faith | Skepticism | Sound |
Mir Taqi Mir, real name was Muhammad Taqi
If you have yourself come to God, the others too are seeking Him; however different be the ways the destination is the same.
God |
Aubrey Menen, formally Salvator Aubrey Clarence Menen
There are no national virtues. We are alone, each one of us. If we are good, the virtues of others will not make us better. We cannot borrow morals.
To do unto all men as you would wish to have done unto you, and to reject for others what you would reject for yourself.
Men |
`Tis not without reason that [Man] seeks out and is willing to join in Society with others who are already united or have a mind to unite for the mutual Preservation of their Lives, Liberties and Estates, which I call by the general Name, Property. The great and chief end, therefore, of Men’s uniting into Commonwealths, and putting themselves under Government, is the Preservation of Property.
Government | Man | Men | Mind | Property | Reason | Society | Society |