This site is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Alan William Smolowe who gave birth to the creation of this database.
Politics is the practical exercise of the art of self-government, and somebody must attend to it if we are to have self-government; somebody must study it, and learn the art, and exercise patience and sympathy and skill to bring the multitude of opinions and wishes of self-governing people into such order that some prevailing opinion may be expressed and peaceably accepted. Otherwise, confusion will result either in dictatorship or anarchy. The principal ground of reproach against any American citizen should be that he is not a politician. Everyone ought to be, as Lincoln was.
Government | Important | Peace | People | Rights | Government |
The methods of peace propaganda which aim at establishing peace doctrine by argument and by creating a feeling favorable to peace in general seem to fall short of reaching the springs of human action and of dealing with the causes of the conduct which they seek to modify.
The popular tendency is to listen approvingly to the most extreme statements and claims of politicians and orators who seek popularity by declaring their own country right in everything and other countries wrong in everything.
Human nature | Nature | Peace | War |
Nothing is more important in the preservation of peace than to secure among the great mass of the people living under constitutional government a just conception of the rights which their nation has against others and of the duties their nation owes to others.
The attractive idea that we can now have a parliament of man with authority to control the conduct of nations by legislation or an international police force with power to enforce national conformity to rules of right conduct is a counsel of perfection.
Set your heart at rest. The fairyland buys not the child of me.
So shall you hear of carnal, bloody, and unnatural acts, of accidental judgments, casual slaughters, of deaths put on by cunning and forced cause, and, in this upshot, purposes mistook fall'n on th' inventors' heads. Hamlet Prince of Denmark (Horatio at V, ii)
Sleep dwell upon thine eyes, peace in thy breast! Would I were sleep and peace, so sweet to rest.
Since the little wit that fools have was silenced, the little foolery that wise men have makes a great show.
Some must watch while some must sleep, so runs the world away.
Signior Antonio, many a time and oft In the Rialto you have rated me About my moneys and my usances; still have I borne it with a patient shrug, For suff’rance is the badge of all our tribe; You call me misbeliever, cut-throat dog, And spet upon my Jewish gaberdine, And all for use of that which is mine own. Well then, it now appears you need my help; Go to, then; you come to me, and you say ‘Shylock, we would have moneys.’ you say so: you that did void your rheum upon my beard, and foot me as you spurn a stranger cur over your threshold; moneys is your suit. What should I say to you? Should I not say ‘hath a dog money? Is it possible a cur can lend three thousand ducats?’ or shall I bend low and, in a bondman’s key, with bated breath and whisp’ring humbleness, say this:— ‘fair sir, you spit on me on wednesday last; you spurn’d me such a day; another time you call’d me dog; and for these courtesies I’ll lend you thus much moneys? Merchant of Venice, Act i, Scene 3
Men |
Ruin has taught me to ruminate, that Time will come and take my love away. This thought is as a death, which cannot choose but weep to have that which it fears to lose.
So long? Nay, then, let the devil wear black, for I'll have a suit of sables. Oh heavens! die two months ago, and not forgotten yet? Then there's hope a great man's memory may outlive his life half a year.