This site is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Alan William Smolowe who gave birth to the creation of this database.
Viktor Frankl, fully Viktor Emil Frankl
When a man finds that it is his destiny to suffer, he will have to accept his suffering as his task. . . . He will have to acknowledge the fact that even in suffering he is unique and alone in the universe. No one can relieve him of his suffering or suffer in his place. His unique opportunity lies in the way in which he bears his burden.
Envy | Future | Love | People | Reality | Reason | Will | Work |
Where no plan is laid, where the disposal of time is surrendered merely to the chance of incident, chaos will soon reign.
In his hearth and home, in his palace, upon his soft and comfortable bed, day and night, the flower-girls scatter flower petals; but without the Lord's Name, the body is miserable. Horses, elephants, lances, marching bands, armies, standard bearers, royal attendants and ostentatious displays - without the Lord of the Universe, these undertakings are all useless.
Anxiety | Anxiety | Applause | Envy | Eternal | Ideals | Men | Praise | Self | Society | Society |
The Lord is your Staff and Support. Do not discard it; do not be led away from the path of faith by stories invented by malice and circulated by spite.
Ursula Le Guin, fully Ursula Kroeber Le Guin
He was appalled by the examination system, when it was explained to him, he could not imagine a greater deterrent to the natural wish to learn than this pattern of cramming in information and disgorging it on demand.
Capitalism | Economics | Envy | Force | Listening | Past | Rites | Sacrifice | Understand |
Ursula Le Guin, fully Ursula Kroeber Le Guin
Freedom is a heavy load, a great and strange burden for the spirit to undertake. It is not easy. It is not a gift given, but a choice made, and the choice may be a hard one. The road goes upward towards the light; but the laden traveler may never reach the end of it.
Man is not an omipotent master of the universe, allowed to do with impunity whatever he thinks, or whatever suits him at the moment. The world we live in is made of an immensely complex and mysterious tissue about which we know very little and which we must treat with utmost humility.
If men were basically evil, who would bother to improve the world instead of giving it up as a bad job at the outset?
Vauvenargues, Luc de Clapiers, Marquis de Vauvenargues NULL
To possess taste, one must have some soul.
Vauvenargues, Luc de Clapiers, Marquis de Vauvenargues NULL
Vice stirs up war, virtue fights.
Vauvenargues, Luc de Clapiers, Marquis de Vauvenargues NULL
If you love life, the fear of death.
Vauvenargues, Luc de Clapiers, Marquis de Vauvenargues NULL
The war is not so expensive that bondage.
Practice | Usefulness | Virtue | Virtue |
Vauvenargues, Luc de Clapiers, Marquis de Vauvenargues NULL
Vice foments war; it is virtue which actually fights. If there were no virtue, we would live in peace forever.
Vauvenargues, Luc de Clapiers, Marquis de Vauvenargues NULL
High place is quick to educate high minds.