This site is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Alan William Smolowe who gave birth to the creation of this database.
I have always thought that one man of tolerable abilities may work great changes, and accomplish great affairs among mankind, if he first forms a good plan, and, cutting off all amusements or other employments that would divert his attention, makes the execution of that same plan his sole study and business.
Amusements | Attention | Business | Good | Man | Mankind | Plan | Study | Thought | Work | Thought |
Every man is rich or poor according to the degree in which he can afford to enjoy the necessaries, conveniences, and amusements of human life.
Amusements | Life | Life | Man |
Happiness does not consist in pastimes and amusements but in virtuous activities.
To find recreation in amusements is not happiness; for this joy springs from alien and extrinsic sources, and is therefore dependent upon and subject to interruption by a thousand accidents, which may minister inevitable affliction.
Affliction | Amusements | Inevitable | Joy | Recreation |
Maltbie Babcock, fully Maltbie Davenport Babcock
Although there is nothing so bad for conscience as trifling, there is nothing so good for conscience as trifles. Its certain discipline and development are related to the smallest things. Conscience, like gravitation, takes hold of atoms. Nothing is morally indifferent. Conscience must reign in manners as well as morals, in amusements as well as work. He only who is “faithful in that which is least” is dependable in all the world.
Amusements | Conscience | Discipline | Good | Manners | Nothing | Trifles | Work | World |
Maltbie Babcock, fully Maltbie Davenport Babcock
Although there is nothing so bad for conscience as trifling, there is nothing so good for conscience as trifles. Its certain discipline and development are related to the smallest things. Conscience, like gravitation, takes hold of atoms. Nothing is morally indifferent. Conscience must reign in manners as well as morals, in amusements as well as work. He only who is "faithful in that which is least" is dependable in all the world.
Amusements | Conscience | Discipline | Good | Manners | Nothing |
Rainer Maria Rilke, full name René Karl Wilhelm Johann Josef Maria Rilke
Society has been able to create refuges of every sort, for since it preferred to take love-life as an amusement, it also had to give it an easy form, cheap, safe, and sure, as public amusements are.
Amusements | Public |
Samuel Johnson, aka Doctor Johnson
One of the disadvantages of wine is that it makes a man mistake words for thoughts.
Amusements | Idleness | Reading |
Ill-luck, is, in nine cases out of ten, the result of saying pleasure first and duty second, instead of duty first and pleasure second.
Amusements | Dignity | Right |
Voltaire, pen name of François-Marie Arouet NULL
Let us work without theorizing, ‘tis the only way to make life endurable.
Amusements | Harm | Will |
Voltaire, pen name of François-Marie Arouet NULL
You must have the devil in you to succeed in any of the arts.
Amusements | Books | Fear | Harm | Will |