This site is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Alan William Smolowe who gave birth to the creation of this database.
Whatever difference there may appear to be in men’s fortunes, there is still a certain compensation of good and ill in all, that makes them equal.
Character | Compensation | Good | Men |
Paul Chatfield, pseudonym for Horace Smith
As friendship must be founded on mutual esteem, it cannot long exist among the vicious; for we soon find ill company to be like a dog, which dirts those the most whom he loves the best.
Character | Esteem | Friendship |
Be as careful of the books you read as the company you keep. Your habits and character will be as much influenced by the former as the latter.
All advantages are attended with disadvantages. A universal compensation prevails in all conditions of being and existence.
Character | Compensation | Existence |
Gina Lombroso, fully Gina Elena Zefora Lombroso
Morality is not an imposition removed from life and reason; it is a compendium of the minimum of sacrifices necessary for man to live in company with other men, without suffering too much or causing others to suffer.
Character | Life | Life | Man | Men | Morality | Reason | Suffering |
Perseverance can lend the appearance of dignity and grandeur to many actions, just as silence in company affords wisdom and apparent intelligence to a stupid person.
Appearance | Character | Dignity | Intelligence | Perseverance | Silence | Wisdom |
When the taste is purified, the morals are not easily corrupted. Whatever injures the body, the morals, or the mind, will lessen or vitiate taste; thus, disorders of the body and violent passions of the mind, will do this, and so will also excessive care or covetousness; but above all, a habit of intemperance, and keeping low company will greatly deprave that which was once a good taste.
Body | Care | Character | Good | Habit | Intemperance | Mind | Taste | Will |
Fulton Sheen, fully Archbishop Fulton John Sheen
An overemphasis on temporal security is a compensation for a loss of the sense of eternal security.
Character | Compensation | Eternal | Security | Sense | Loss |
Saint Augustine, aka Augustine of Hippo, St. Austin, Bishop of Hippo NULL
Bad company is like a nail driven into a post, which, after the first and second blow, may be drawn out with little difficulty; but being once driven up to the head, the pincers cannot take hold to draw it out, but which can only be done by the destruction of the wood.
Difficulty | Little | Wisdom |
Goodness is achieved not in a vacuum, but in the company of other men, attended by love.
It is some compensation for great evils that they enforce great lessons.
Compensation | Wisdom |
The great gift of conversation lies less in displaying it ourselves than in drawing it out of others. He who leaves your company pleased with himself and his own cleverness is perfectly well pleased with you.
Conversation | Wisdom |