This site is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Alan William Smolowe who gave birth to the creation of this database.
Evil is easily discovered; there is an infinite variety; good is almost unique. But some kinds of evil are almost as difficult to discover as that which we call good; and often particular evil of this class passes for good. It needs even a certain greatness of soul to attain to this, as to that which is good.
To go beyond the bounds of moderation is to outrage humanity. The greatness of the human soul is shown by knowing how to keep within proper bounds. So far from greatness consisting in going beyond its limits, it really consists in keeping within it.
Greatness | Humanity | Knowing | Moderation | Soul | Moderation |
There is a kind of greatness which does not depend upon fortune; it is a certain manner that distinguishes us, and which seems to destine us for great things; it is the value we insensibly set upon ourselves; it is by this quality that we gain the deference of other men, and it is this which commonly raises us more above them, than birth, rank, or even merit itself.
Birth | Deference | Fortune | Greatness | Men | Merit | Rank | Value |
Franklin D. Roosevelt, fully Franklin Delano Roosevelt, aka FDR
The fate of America cannot depend on any one man. The greatness of American is grounded in principles and not on any single personality.
Fate | Greatness | Man | Personality | Principles | Fate |
Jesse Jackson, fully Jesse Louis Jackson
We must not measure greatness from the mansion down, but from the manger up.
Real great men have a curious feeling that the greatness is not in them, but through them. And they see something divine in every other man.
Whatever may be the means or whatever the more immediate end of any kind of art, all of it that is good agrees in this, that it is the expression of one soul talking to another, and is precious according to the greatness of the soul that utters it.
I believe that the first test of a truly great man is his humility. I do not mean by humility, doubt of his own powers. But really great men have a curious feeling that the greatness is not in them, but through them. And they see something divine in every other man.
Lou Holtz, fully Louis Leo "Lou" Holtz
Adversity is another way to measure the greatness of individuals. I never had a crisis that didn't make me stronger.
Every beauty and greatness in this world is created by a single thought or emotion inside a man. Every thing we see today, made by past generations, was, before its appearance, a thought in the mind of a man or an impulse in the heart of a woman.
Appearance | Beauty | Greatness | Heart | Impulse | Man | Mind | Past | Thought | Woman | World | Beauty | Thought |
Cicero, fully Marcus Tullius Cicero, anglicized as Tully NULL
Everything morally right derives from one of four sources: it concerns either full perception or intelligent development of what is true; or the preservation of organized society, where every man is rendered his due and all his obligations are faithfully discharged; or the greatness and strength of a noble, invincible spirit; or order and moderation in everything said and done, whereby there is temperance and self-control.
Control | Greatness | Man | Moderation | Order | Perception | Right | Self | Self-control | Society | Spirit | Strength | Moderation |
Oprah Winfrey, born Oprah Gail Winfrey
Every single one of us has the power for greatness, because greatness is determined by service – to yourself and to others.
Oprah Winfrey, born Oprah Gail Winfrey
Don’t complain about what you don’t have. Use what you’ve got. To do less than your best is a sin. Every single one of us has the power for greatness, because greatness is determined by service – to yourself and to others.