This site is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Alan William Smolowe who gave birth to the creation of this database.
Ursula Le Guin, fully Ursula Kroeber Le Guin
Sci-fi uses the images that ‘sf’ — starting with H.G. Wells — made familiar: space travel, aliens, galactic wars and federations, time machines, et cetera, taking them literally, not caring if they are possible or even plausible. It has no interest in or relation to real science or technology. It's fantasy in space suits. Spectacle. Wizards with lasers. Kids with ray guns. I've written both, but I have to say I respect science fiction enough that I wince when people call it sci-fi.
Liberty | Method | Order | People | Prediction | Science | Will |
Ursula Le Guin, fully Ursula Kroeber Le Guin
It is above all by the imagination that we achieve perception and compassion and hope.
Nothing |
The history of the human race has generated several papers articulating basic moral imperatives, or fundamental principles, of human coexistence that — maybe in association with concurring historical events — substantially influenced the fate of humanity on this planet. Among these historic documents, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights — adopted fifty years ago today — holds a very special, indeed, unique position. It is the first code of ethical conduct that was not a product of one culture or one sphere of civilization only, but a universal creation, shaped and subscribed to by representatives of all humankind. Since its very inception, the Declaration has thus represented a planetary or global commitment, a global intention, a global guideline. For this reason alone, this exceptional document — conceived as a result of a profound human self-reflection in the wake of the horrors of World War II, and retaining its relevance ever since — deserves to be remembered today.
Our ineptitude in getting at the record is largely caused by the artificiality of systems of indexing. When data of any sort are placed in storage, they are filed alphabetically or numerically, and information is found (when it is) by tracing it down from subclass to subclass. It can be in only one place, unless duplicates are used; one has to have rules as to which path will locate it, and the rules are cumbersome. Having found one item, moreover, one has to emerge from the system and re-enter on a new path.
V. S. Pritchett, fully Sir Victor Sawdon Pritchett
The attitude to foreigners is like the attitude to dogs: Dogs are neither human nor British, but so long as you keep them under control, give them their exercise, feed them, pat them, you will find their wild emotions are amusing, and their characters interesting. [Of London]
Awakening | Care | Man | Men | Prison | Public | Training | War |
Vauvenargues, Luc de Clapiers, Marquis de Vauvenargues NULL
A fool is like the people who thinks little rich.
Machines |
Vauvenargues, Luc de Clapiers, Marquis de Vauvenargues NULL
The generosity of others suffer sore, as if she was responsible.
Circumstances | Courage | Men | Practice | Speculation |
Vauvenargues, Luc de Clapiers, Marquis de Vauvenargues NULL
Men sometimes feel injured by praise because it assigns a limit to their merit; few people are modest enough not to take offense that one appreciates them.
The scene changes but the aspirations of men of good will persist.
Body | Knowledge | Men | Nature | Responsibility | Understand |
Vauvenargues, Luc de Clapiers, Marquis de Vauvenargues NULL
Nature has given great men do, and let the other judge.
Vauvenargues, Luc de Clapiers, Marquis de Vauvenargues NULL
Great men in teaching weak men to reflect have set them on the road to error.
Men |
Vauvenargues, Luc de Clapiers, Marquis de Vauvenargues NULL
Most people grow old within a small circle of ideas, which they have not discovered for themselves. There are perhaps less wrong-minded people than thoughtless.
Tom Lehrer, fully Thomas Andrew Lehrer
Hark, the Herald Tribune sings, advertising wondrous things.
A son will learn from his father to make a living, a daughter will learn from her mother to cut clothes.
Woodrow Wilson, fully Thomas Woodrow Wilson
I am going to teach the South American republics to elect good men.
Credit | Government | Growth | Opinion | System | Government |