This site is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Alan William Smolowe who gave birth to the creation of this database.
We puzzle as to whether the universe is bounded or extends forever; whether, indeed, it may only be one universe among many. We speculate as to whether our universe began in a vast explosion, whether it pulsates between utter compression and wide diffusion, whether it is self-renewing and thus unchanged forever. And we are humble. But science teaches more than this. It continually reminds us that we are still ignorant and there is much to learn. Time and space are interconnected in strange ways; there is no absolute simultaneity. Within the atom occur phenomena concerning which visualization is futile, to which common sense, the guidance from our everyday experience, has no application, which yield to studies by equations that have no meaning except that they work. Mass and energy transform one into another, Gravitation, the solid rock on which Newton built, may be merely a property of the geometry of the cosmos. Life, as its details unfold before us, becomes ever more intricate, emphasizing more and more our wonder that its marvelous functioning could have been produced by chance and time. The human mind, merely in its chemical and physical aspects, takes on new inspiring attributes.
Tom Hayden, fully Thomas Emmet "Tom" Hayden
I think people are entitled to march without a permit. When you have a few hundred thousand people on the street you have permission.
Tom Robbins, fully Thomas Eugene "Tom" Robbins
It's more important to be free than to be happy.
Eleanor Brown, fully Nora Eleanor Louisa Hervey Brown
Despite his money and his looks and all the good-on-paper attributes he possessed, he was not a reader, and, well, let's just say that is the sort of nonsense up with which we will not put.
People |
I still can’t say whether I ever want children….I can only say how I feel now--grateful to be on my own. I also know that I won’t go forth and have children just in case I might regret missing it later in life; I don’t think this is a strong enough motivation to bring more babies onto the earth.
Daring | Display | Individual |
Erma Bombeck, fully Erma Louise Bombeck, born Erma Fiste
There were really only two men I knew who ever got a laugh out of paying their income taxes. One was cheating the government and getting away with it. The other had a sick sense of humor and would probably have set up a concession stand at the Boston Tea Party and sold sugar cubes and lemon slices.
The experts in our society who offer to help us have a kind of general staff mentality from which massive, top-down solutions are issued to solve our problems. Then when solutions donÂ’t work, we get mired in the nothing-can-be-done swamp. We are first incited into being grandiose and then intimidated into being infantile. But there is another way, the plain way of quiet Christian humility. We need pruning. Cut back to our roots, we learn this psalm and discover the quietness of the weaned child, the tranquility of maturing trust. It is such a minute psalm that many have overlooked it, but for all its brevity and lack of pretense, it is essential. For every Christian encounters problems of growth and difficulties of development.
Our days are busy with little leisure for frills. We have work to do, interests to pursue, books to read, letters to write, the telephone to answer, errands to run, children to raise, investments to tend to, the lawn to mow, food to prepare and serve, the garbage to take out. We don’t need God’s help or counsel in doing any of these things. God is necessary for the big things, most obviously creation and salvation. But for the rest we can, for the most part, take care of ourselves. That usually adds up to a workable life, at least when accompanied by a decent job and a good digestion. But—it is not the practice of resurrection; it is not growing up in Christ, it is not living in the company of the Trinity.
Depression | Feelings | Security |
ItÂ’s a wonderful formula for getting to heaven the quickest and easiest way. And virtually foolproof. There is no time to backslide, no temptations to bother with, no doubts to wrestle with, no spouse to have to honor, no kids to put up with, no enemies to love, no more sorrow, no more tears. Instant eternity.
Eugene McCarthy, fully Eugene Joseph "Gene" McCarthy
As long as the differences and diversities of mankind exist, democracy must allow for compromise, for accommodation, and for the recognition of differences.
Eugene McCarthy, fully Eugene Joseph "Gene" McCarthy
The only thing that saves us from the bureaucracy is its inefficiency.
Everett Dirksen, fully Everett McKinley Dirksen
Stronger than all the armies is an idea thatÂ’s time has comeÂ… The time has come for equality of opportunity in sharing in government, in education, and in employment. It will not be stayed or denied. It is here!
One who speaks fair words feeds you with an empty spoon.
Voice of one, voice of none.
Belief | Distinguish | Ethics | God | Human nature | Inevitable | Life | Life | Morality | Nature | Need | Philosophy | Reason | Will | Wrong | God |
J. R. R. Tolkien, fully John Ronald Reuel Tolkien
Begone, foul dwimmerlaik, lord of carrion! Leave the dead in peace! A cold voice answered: 'Come not between the Nazg–l and his prey! Or he will not slay thee in thy turn. He will bear thee away to the houses of lamentation, beyond all darkness, where thy flesh shall be devoured, and thy shrivelled mind be left naked to the Lidless Eye. A sword rang as it was drawn. Do what you will; but I will hinder it, if I may. Hinder me? Thou fool. No living man may hinder me! Then Merry heard of all sounds in that hour the strangest. It seemed that Dernhelm laughed, and the clear voice was like the ring of steel. But no living man am I!
J. R. R. Tolkien, fully John Ronald Reuel Tolkien
And why not? Surely you don't disbelieve the prophecies just because you helped them come about. You don't really suppose do you that all your adventures and escapes were managed by mere luck? Just for your sole benefit? You're a very fine person, Mr. Baggins, and I'm quite fond of you. But you are really just a little fellow, in a wide world after all.
J. R. R. Tolkien, fully John Ronald Reuel Tolkien
Hullo! said Merry. So that?s what is bothering you? Now, Pippin my lad, don?t forget Gildor?s saying?the one Sam used to quote: Do not meddle in the affairs of Wizards, for they are subtle and quick to anger. But our whole life for months has been one long meddling in the affairs of Wizards, said Pippin. I should like a bit of information as well as danger. I should like a look at that ball. Go to sleep! said Merry. You?ll get information enough, sooner or later. My dear Pippin, no Took ever beat a Brandybuck for inquisitiveness; but is it this time, I ask you? All right! What?s the harm in my telling you what I should like: a look at that stone? I know I can?t have it, with old Gandalf sitting on it, like a hen on an egg. But it doesn?t help much to get no more from you than a you-can?t-have-it-so-go-to-sleep! Well, what else could I say? said Merry. I?m sorry, Pippin, but you really must wait till the morning. I?ll be as curious as you like after breakfast, and I?ll help you in any way I can at wizard-wheedling. But I can?t keep awake any longer. If I yawn any more, I shall split at the ears. Good night!