This site is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Alan William Smolowe who gave birth to the creation of this database.
The constant duty of every man to his fellows is to ascertain his own powers and special gifts, and to strengthen them for the help of others.
Without seeking, truth cannot be known to all. It can neither be declared from pulpits, nor set down in articles, nor in any wise prepared and sold in packages ready for use. Truth must be ground for every man by himself out of its husk, with such help as he can get, indeed, but not without stern labor of his own.
Lou Holtz, fully Louis Leo "Lou" Holtz
The greatest power God gave us is the power to choose. We have the opportunity to choose whether we’re going to act or procrastinate, believe or doubt, pray or curse, help or heal. We also choose whether we’re going to be happy or whether we’re going to be sad.
My parents never bound us to any church but taught us that the love of goodness was the love of God, the cheerful doing of duty made life happy, and that the love of one’s neighbor in its widest sense was the best help for oneself. Their lives showed us how lovely this simple faith was, how much honor, gratitude and affection it brought them, and what a sweet memory they left behind.
Church | Duty | Faith | God | Gratitude | Happy | Honor | Life | Life | Love | Memory | Parents | Sense |
Maimonides, given name Moses ben Maimon or Moshe ben Maimon, known as "Rambam" NULL
There are eight rungs in charity. The highest is when you help a man to help himself.
Marcel Marceau, born Marcel Mangel
Life’s meaning rests in the eye of the beholder and in our constant desire to approach perfection. Life is so immense and complex that there is no one truth, only the rule of destiny... We do not choose life; life chooses us. Yet we try to follow our destiny, our passion our drive. We must live every minute as if it is our first and our last... The meaning of life lies in our desire to help others... Earthly life is an eternal miracle. In a moment of grace, we can grasp eternity in the palm of our hand.
Desire | Destiny | Eternal | Eternity | Grace | Life | Life | Meaning | Passion | Perfection | Rule | Truth |
Martin Seligman, Martin E. P. "Marty" Seligman
Optimism is just a useful adjunct to wisdom. By itself it cannot provide meaning. Optimism is a tool to help the individual achieve the goals he has set for himself. It is in the choice of the goals themselves that meaning - or emptiness - resides. When learned optimism is coupled with a renewed commitment to the commons [common good], our epidemic of depression and meaninglessness may end.
Choice | Commitment | Depression | Goals | Good | Individual | Meaning | Optimism | Wisdom |
No one may forsake his neighbor when he is in trouble. Everyone is under obligation to help and support his neighbor as he would himself like to be helped.
Norman Lear, fully Norman Milton Lear
It seems to me that any full-grown, mature adult would have a desire to be responsible, to help where he can in a world that needs so very much, that threatens us so very much.
In caring I experience the other as having potentialities and the need to grow. In helping the other grow I do not impose my own direction; rather, I allow the direction of the other's growth to guide what I do, to help determine how I am to respond.
Experience | Growth | Need |
The moment you commit and quit holding back, all sorts of unforseen incidents, meetings and material assistance will rise up to help you. The simple act of commitment is a powerful magnet for help
Commitment | Will |
Paramahansa Yogananda, born Mukunda Lal Ghosh
Two persons who unite their lives to help each other toward divine realization are founding their marriage on the right basis: unconditional friendship.
Go out and get interested in the human problems that are everywhere around us. Help to improve the human lot. This service of love is perhaps the healthiest attitude in this world. It puts one into the main stream of the human race, where the profound problems re, and as one participates and gets involved and learns to know people and they him, one is loving and being loved and life becomes good - very good. Love is never a soft, genial attitude, indeed it is far from it. For example, when you really love the poor and underprivileged, you will get and fight for better conditions for all men. The fight is often against prejudice and entrenched greed, and it is no easy struggle to overcome these. But love is tough and never gives up as long as one of God’s children is the victim of injustice and mistreatment.
Better | Children | Example | God | Good | Greed | Human race | Injustice | Injustice | Life | Life | Love | Men | People | Prejudice | Problems | Race | Service | Struggle | Will | World | Victim |
It is one of the most beautiful compensations of this life that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself.
Character is always known. Thefts never enrich; alms never impoverish; murder will speak out of stone walls. The least admixture of a lie - for example, the taint of vanity, any attempt to make a good impression, a favorable appearance - will instantly vitiate the effect. But speak the truth and all nature and all spirits help you with unexpected furtherance.
Alms | Appearance | Character | Example | Good | Impression | Murder | Nature | Truth | Will | Murder |
Pythagoras, aka Pythagoras of Samos or Pythagoras the Samian NULL
Do not pray for yourself; you do not know what will help you.
Will |