This site is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Alan William Smolowe who gave birth to the creation of this database.
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 |
One need remain in hell no longer than he chooses to; and the moment he chooses not to remain longer, not all the powers in the universe can prevent his leaving it. One can rise to any heaven he himself chooses; and when he chooses so to rise, all the higher powers of the universe combine to help him heavenward.
From the perspective of the minuteness of our planet in relationship with the entire universe a person’s seeking honor is ridiculous.
Character | Honor | Relationship | Universe |
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 |
Walt Whitman, fully Walter "Walt" Whitman
Simplicity is the glory of expression. The whole theory of the universe is directed unerringly to one single individual.
Character | Glory | Simplicity | Universe |
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 |
Walt Whitman, fully Walter "Walt" Whitman
All the things of the universe are perfect miracles, each as profound as any.
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 |