This site is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Alan William Smolowe who gave birth to the creation of this database.
Laura Schlesinger, fully Laura Catherine Schlessinger, aka Dr. Laura
So it is the fear, weakness, selfishness, and cowardice of onlookers that permit evil behavior to persist.
Ludwig Feuerbach, fully Ludwig Andreas von Feuerbach
The hereafter is certainly an excellent institution, A welcome asylum for cowardice and spiritual want.
One of the basic causes for all the trouble in the world today is that people talk too much and think too little. They act too impulsively without thinking. I am not advocating in the slightest that we become mutes with our voices stilled because of fear of criticism of what we might say. That is moral cowardice. And moral cowardice that keeps us from speaking our minds is as dangerous to this country as irresponsible talk. The right way is not always the popular and easy way. Standing for right when it is unpopular is a true test of moral character. The importance of individual thinking to the preservation of our democracy and our freedom cannot be overemphasized. The broader sense of the concept of your role in the defense of democracy is that of the citizen doing his most for the preservation of democracy and peace by independent thinking, making that thinking articulate by translating it into action at the ballot boxes, in the forums, and in everyday life, and being constructive and positive in that thinking and articulation. The most precious thing that democracy gives to us is freedom. You and I cannot escape the fact that the ultimate responsibility for freedom is personal. Our freedoms today are not so much in danger because people are consciously trying to take them away from us as they are in danger because we forget to use them. Freedom unexercised may be freedom forfeited. The preservation of freedom is in the hands of the people themselves — not of the government.
Action | Cowardice | Criticism | Danger | Defense | Democracy | Fear | Freedom | Individual | Peace | People | Responsibility | Right | Sense | Thinking | World | Danger | Trouble | Think |
Mary Shelley, née Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin
With how many things are we on the brink of becoming acquainted, if cowardice or carelessness did not restrain our inquiries.
Courage is an inner resolution to go forward despite obstacles; Cowardice is submissive surrender to circumstances. Courage breeds creativity; Cowardice represses fear and is mastered by it. Cowardice asks the question, is it safe? Expediency ask the question, is it politic? Vanity asks the question, is it popular? But conscience ask the question, is it right? And there comes a time when we must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but one must take it because it is right.
Conscience | Cowardice | Fear | Position | Resolution | Surrender | Time |
Meister Eckhart, formally Meister von Hochheim
There is no greater valor nor no sterner fight. He who would be what he ought to be must stop being what he is.
Michel de Montaigne, fully Lord Michel Eyquem de Montaigne
Things are not bad in themselves, but our cowardice makes them so.
Miguel de Cervantes, fully Miguel de Cervantes Saaversa
True valor lies half way between cowardice and rashness.
The Way of a Warrior is based on humanity, love, and sincerity; the heart of martial valor is true bravery, wisdom, love, and friendship. Emphasis on the physical aspects of warriorship is futile, for the power of the body is always limited.
Niccolò Machiavelli, formally Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli
It may be observed that provinces, among the vicissitudes to which they are accustomed, pass from order to confusion, and afterwards pass again into a state of order. The way of the world doesn’t allow things to continue on an even course; as soon as they arrive at their greatest perfection, they again start to decline. Likewise, having sunk to their utmost state of depression, unable to descend lower, they necessarily reascend. And so from good, they naturally decline to evil. Valor produces peace, and peace repose; repose, disorder; disorder, ruin. From ruin order again springs, and from order virtue, and from this glory, and good fortune
Good | Order | Peace | Valor | Valor | World | Vicissitudes |
Peter Ustinov, fully Sir Peter Alexander Ustinov
Courage is often lack of insight, whereas cowardice in many cases is based on good information.
A high heart ought to bear calamities and not flee them, since in bearing them appears the grandeur of the mind and in fleeing them the cowardice of the heart.
True, I am young, but for souls nobly born valor doesn't await the passing of years.
Plutarch, named Lucius Mestrius Plutarchus after becoming Roman citizen NULL
Courage stands halfway between cowardice and rashness, one of which is a lack, the other an excess of courage.
Pope Pius X, aka Saint Pope Pius X and Pope of the Eucharist, born Giuseppe Melchiorre Sarto NULL
In our time more than ever before, the chief strength of the wicked, lies in the cowardice and weakness of good men... All the strength of Satan’s reign is due to the easy-going weakness of Catholics. Oh! If I might ask the Divine Redeemer, as the prophet Zachary did in spirit: What are those wounds in the midst of Thy hands? The answer would not be doubtful: With these was I wounded in the house of them that loved Me. I was wounded by My friends, who did nothing to defend Me, and who, on every occasion, made themselves the accomplices of My adversaries. And this reproach can be leveled at the weak and timid Catholics of all countries.