This site is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Alan William Smolowe who gave birth to the creation of this database.
D. Z. Phillips, fully Dewi Zephaniah Phillips
The prayer is an attempt at influencing the divine will. In short, one is back in the realm of superstition. It is true that love of god’s will can be found in whatever happens, but the prayer of petition is best understood, not as an attempt at influencing the ways things go, but as an expression of, and a request for, devotion to God through the way of things.
Devotion | God | Love | Prayer | Superstition | Will | Wisdom | God |
The platform of the altar of love may be analyzed and explained; it is constructed of virtue, beauty, and affection. Such is the pyre, such is the offering; but the eternal spark must come from heaven, that lights the sacrifice.
Beauty | Eternal | Heaven | Love | Sacrifice | Virtue | Virtue | Wisdom |
Jean Racine, baptismal name Jean-Baptiste Racine
None love, but they who wish to love... Love is not dumb. The heart speaks many ways.
We should behave toward our country as women do toward men they love. A loving wife will do anything for her husband except stop criticizing and trying to improve him. We should cast the same affectionate but sharp glance at our country. We should love it, but also insist upon telling all its faults. The noisy empty "patriot" not the critic is the dangerous citizen.