This site is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Alan William Smolowe who gave birth to the creation of this database.
I spent 33 years and four months in active military service and during that period I spent most of my time as a high class muscle man for Big Business, for Wall Street and the bankers. In short, I was a racketeer, a gangster for capitalism. I helped make Mexico and especially Tampico safe for American oil interests in 1914. I helped make Haiti and Cuba a decent place for the National City Bank boys to collect revenues in. I helped in the raping of half a dozen Central American republics for the benefit of Wall Street. I helped purify Nicaragua for the International Banking House of Brown Brothers in 1902-1912. I brought light to the Dominican Republic for the American sugar interests in 1916. I helped make Honduras right for the American fruit companies in 1903. In China in 1927 I helped see to it that Standard Oil went on its way unmolested. Looking back on it, I might have given Al Capone a few hints. The best he could do was to operate his racket in three districts. I operated on three continents.
I spent thirty-three years in the Marines, most of my time being a hlgh class muscle man for Big Business, for Wall Street and the bankers. In short, I was a racketeer for capitalism. I helped purify Nicaragua for the international banking house of Brown Brothers in 1910-1912. I helped make Mexico and especially Tampico safe for American oil interests in 1914. I brought light to the Dominican Republic for American sugar interests in 1916. I helped make Haiti and Cuba a decent place for the National City [Bank] boys to collect revenue in. I helped in the rape of half a dozen Central American republics for the benefit of Wall Street. In China in 1927 l helped to see to it that Standard Oil went its way unmolested. I had a swell racket. l was rewarded with honors, medals, promotions. l might have given Al Capone a few hints. The best he could do was to operate a racket in three city districts. The Marines operated on three continents.
If the passions are possible only in a being which has a body, and a body not entirely subject to the light of its mind and to the immediate transparence of its will, this is true insofar as, in ourselves and without ourselves, and generally in spite of ourselves, the mind's movements obey a mechanical structure which is that of the movement of spirits.
Mikhail Naimy, also spelled Mikha'il Na'ima
Love is not a virtue. Love is a necessity; more so than bread and water; more so than light and air. Let no one pride himself on loving. But rather breathe in Love and breathe it out just as unconsciously and freely as you breathe in the air and breathe it out. For Love needs no one to exalt it. Love will exalt the heart that it finds worthy of itself. Seek no rewards for Love. Love is reward sufficient unto Love, as Hate is punishment sufficient unto Hate. Nor keep any accounts with Love. For Love accounts to no one but itself. Love neither lends nor borrows; Love neither buys nor sells; but when it gives, it gives its all; and when it takes, it takes its all. Its very taking is a giving. Its very giving is a taking. Therefore is it the same to-day, tomorrow and forevermore.
Giving | Hate | Heart | Light | Love | Pride | Punishment | Reward | Tomorrow | Will |
Milarepa, fully Jetsun Milarepa NULL
I bow down at the feet of my Guru. Oh good patrons! If you wish to realize the Essence of Mind, You should practice the following teachings: Faith, knowledge, and discipline, These three are the Life Tree of Mind. This is the tree you should plant and foster. Non-attachment, non-clinging, and non-blindness, These are the three shields of Mind; They are light to wear, strong for defense, And the shields you should seek. Meditation, diligence, and perseverance, These are the three horses of Mind; They run fast and quickly flee! If you look for horses, these are the right ones. Self-awareness, self-illumination, and self-rapture, These three are the fruits of Mind; Sow the seeds, ripen the fruit, Refine the fluid, and the essence emerges. If you look for fruit, these are the fruit you should seek. Sprung from yogic intuition, This song of the Twelve Meanings of Mind is sung. Inspired by your faith, continue with your practice, my good patrons!
Good | Life | Life | Light | Mind | Practice | Right | Following |
Milton Friedman, fully John Milton Friedman
Currently more than 40% of our income is disposed of on our behalf by government at federal, state and local levels combined. One of us suggested a new national holiday, "Personal Independence Day" - that day in the year when we stop working to pay for the expenses of the government, and start working to pay for the items we severally and individually choose in light of our own needs and desires. In 1929, that holiday would have come on Feb 12; today it would come about May 30; if present trends were to continuel it would coincide with July 4.
Day | Government | Light | Present | Government |
Elizabeth Fry, fully Elizabeth "Betsy" Fry, née Gurney
Does Capital punishment tend to the security of the people? By no means. It hardens the hearts of men, and makes the loss of life appear light to them; it renders life insecure, inasmuch as the law holds out that Property is of greater value than life.
Capital punishment | Law | Life | Life | Light | Property | Punishment | Security | Loss | Value |
No sin is so light that it may be overlooked. No sin is so heavy that it may not be repented of.
I do not know how to light the fire, I do not know the prayer, but I know the place and this must be sufficient. [When he saw the war approaching, he went to the forest and said this]
Mahatma Gandhi, fully Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, aka Bapu
Even as wisdom often comes from the mouths of babes, so does it often come from the mouths of old people. The golden rule is to test everything in the light of reason and experience, no matter from where it comes.
Golden Rule | Light | Reason | Rule | Wisdom | Golden Rule | Old |
Mortimer J. Adler, fully Mortimer Jerome Adler
All books will become light in proportion as you find light in them.
There are two type of ki: ordinary ki and true ki. Ordinary ki is coarse and heavy; true ki is light and versatile. In order to perform well, you have to liberate yourself from ordinary ki and permeate your organs with true ki. That is the basis of powerful technique.
Morris West, fully Morris Langlo West
There are a few of us — madmen all! — who are in love with knowing, who would sell the last shirt from our backs for one small truth, one tiny star-fire to light up the murk and mystery of what we call our life… We may go blind before we see it, that's the haunting... No man — prince, peasant, pope, — has all the light, who says else is a mountebank. I claim no private lien on truth, only a liberty to seek it, prove it in debate, and to be wrong a thousand times to reach a single rightness. It is that liberty they fear. They want us to be driven to God like sheep, not running to him like lovers, shouting joy!
God | Liberty | Light | Love | Man | Mystery | Wrong | God |
I don’t know how to light the holy fire, nor do I know the special prayer, but I still remember the place. Help us, Lord!
Light |
Muhammad Ali, born Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr.
I'm so fast that last night I turned off the light switch in my hotel room and was in bed before the room was dark.
Light |
Bawa Mahaiyadden, fully Muhammad Raheem Bawa Muhaiyaddeen
Now you have life, but death will follow. However, if you have Wisdom, you can transcend death. If Truth is within you, there is no death. There is no point in just having life. That is not enough. You need the Nur, the Light of Wisdom. Only then can you benefit and grow. Then there will be no death.
Bawa Mahaiyadden, fully Muhammad Raheem Bawa Muhaiyaddeen
Look at yourself. You came into this world, but what you have to realize is that you came from Him and you must return to Him. The light within you has to merge with that One Light. Then the dark show of life will disappear. My love you, my children. This is the most important thing to understand in life.
Important | Life | Life | Light | Love | Will | Understand |
Bawa Mahaiyadden, fully Muhammad Raheem Bawa Muhaiyaddeen
The real fast is the blossoming of the inner heart. Fragrance must emanate. The qualities, conduct, behavior, and disposition that accompany this blossoming make no sound. Light and fragrance must dawn in the inner heart. The one point which is God must resplend. Do fast, but make sure the heart blossoms; make it fragrant. The flowering scent must emanate, and when that space is perceived, the One who inhales that perfume will come. The One who perceives that fragrance will come. He is the Lord.