This site is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Alan William Smolowe who gave birth to the creation of this database.
The essence of optimism is that it takes no account of the present, but it is a source of inspiration, of vitality and hope where others have resigned; it enables a man to hold his head high, to claim the future for himself and not to abandon it to his enemy.
Enemy | Future | Hope | Inspiration | Man | Optimism | Present |
Of all our faults, that which we most readily admit is indolence. We persuade ourselves that it cherishes all the peaceful virtues, and that without destroying the others it merely suspends their functions.
Most people judge others either by the company they keep, or by their fortune.
There are different kinds of curiosity - one of interest, which causes us to learn that which would be useful to us, and the other of pride which springs from desire to know that of which others are ignorant.
He who thinks he can find within himself the means of doing without others is much; mistaken; but he who thinks that others cannot do without him is still more mistaken.
Means |
We are so accustomed to masquerade ourselves before others that we end by deceiving ourselves.
Many people consider the things government does for them to be social progress, but they regard the things government does for others as socialism.
Government | People | Progress | Regard | Government |
We all find in others the faults that are found in ourselves.
It is easier to be wise for others than for ourselves.
Wise |
It is as easy to deceive one’s self without perceiving it as it is difficult to deceive others without their finding out.
Self |
It is our own vanity that makes the vanity of others intolerable to us.
The violence done us by others is often less painful than that which we do to ourselves.
What others say of me matters little, what I myself say and do matters much.
Little |
Nature has given to men one tongue, but two ears, that we may hear from others twice as much as we speak.
Let a man once see himself as others see him, and all enthusiasm vanishes from his heart.
Enthusiasm | Heart | Man |
However much we guard against it, we tend to shape ourselves in the image others have of us.