This site is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Alan William Smolowe who gave birth to the creation of this database.
To feel, to feel exquisitely, is the lot of every man; it is the charm that lends a superstitious joy to fear. But to appreciate belongs to the few; to one or two alone, here and there, the blended passion and understanding that constitute in its essence worship.
Character | Fear | Joy | Man | Passion | Understanding | Worship |
When the heart is won, the understanding is easily convinced.
Character | Heart | Understanding |
Matthias Alexander, fully Frederick Matthias Alexander
Every man, woman and child holds the possibility of physical perfection: it rests with each of us to attain it by personal understanding and effort.
Effort | Man | Perfection | Understanding | Wisdom | Woman | Child |
In our thinking we must preserve an open and enquiring mind, an ability to see things through the eyes of our opponents, a skill for understanding the motives and thoughts of those whom we oppose. Yet we must act in the light of the best knowledge and reason available to us at the moment.
Ability | Character | Knowledge | Light | Mind | Motives | Reason | Skill | Thinking | Understanding | Wisdom |
Sharing is the great and imperative need of our time. An unshared life is not living. He who shares does not lessen but greatens his life, especially if sharing be done not formally nor conventionally, but rather with such heartiness as springs out of an understanding of the meaning of the religion of sharing.
Character | Life | Life | Meaning | Need | Religion | Time | Understanding |
Of all exercises there are none of so much importance, or so immediately our concern, as those which let us into the knowledge of our own nature. Others may exercise the understanding or amuse the imagination; but these only can improve the heart and form the human mind to wisdom.
Character | Heart | Imagination | Knowledge | Mind | Nature | Understanding | Wisdom |
Peace comes to us through love, understanding of our fellow men, faith. Peace does not include selfishness nor indifference. Peace is never wrapped at a counter for a price. It is earned by giving of ourselves.
Character | Faith | Giving | Indifference | Love | Men | Peace | Price | Selfishness | Understanding |
Bernard Baruch, fully Bernard Mannes Baruch
Let this be anchored in our minds: Peace is never long preserved by weight of metal or by an armament race. Peace can be made tranquil and secure only by understanding and agreement fortified by sanctions. We must embrace international cooperation or international disintegration.
Cooperation | Peace | Race | Understanding | Wisdom |
Vicki Baum, fully Hedwig "Vicki" Baum
Marriage always demands the greatest understanding of the art of insincerity possible between two human beings.
Art | Insincerity | Marriage | Understanding | Wisdom | Art |
The nearest approximation to an understanding of life is to feel it - to realize it to the full - to be a profound and inscrutable mystery.
Life | Life | Mystery | Understanding | Wisdom |
The child's entire life is influenced by his ability to listen. Good listening habits make it possible for him to broaden his knowledge, enjoy music, conversation, storytelling, drama; discriminating listening makes it possible for him to select radio and television programs for enjoyment. Critical listening helps him function intelligently in selection of governmental leaders. It is quite possible that the ability to listen effectively may be one of the most valuable tools he can use in his efforts to bring understanding and peace to the world.
Ability | Conversation | Enjoyment | Good | Knowledge | Life | Life | Listening | Music | Peace | Television | Understanding | Wisdom | World |
Edward Coke, fully Sir Edward Coke
The house of every man is his castle, and if thieves come to a man’s house to rob or murder, and the owner or his servants kill any of the thieves in defense of himself and his house, it is no felony and he lose nothing.