Wow, Jason, thank you for your work! I just discovered your website and the amazing database of values quotes. I’m a psychologist focusing on developing research-based core attributes in children and adolescents. I founded Roots of Action, a site devoted to the field of positive youth development. I wish I had known about the Wisdom Archive when I was working on a series of “quotes for kids” articles! My best wishes to you and Values of the Wise; quotes have so much to teach us and I look forward to referencing your work on my site.” – Developmental psychologist, author of Tomorrow’s Change Makers: Reclaiming the Power of Citizenship for a New Generation, and founder of the website www.RootsofAction.com
“Values & Ethics: From Living Room to Boardroom is a great read; a comprehensive look at a wide range of ethical philosophies; a great collection of important quotations. I’m delighted to be included among such distinguished company.” – , Professor of Communication Ethics at the University of Denver, Former national president of the Society of Professional Journalists, Opinion writer for the Denver Post, Editor of the book: Journalism Ethics: A Casebook of Professional Conduct for News Media
has been honored with the 2017 Best Book Award for the category of SOCIAL CHANGE, by AmericanBookFest.com
“From the interview guests themselves and their work to the classic quotes of ancient Greeks and influential modern philosophers, it’s a phenomenal book…. an ideal addition to the collection of anyone with a passion for deep thought and a belief that the world can be made better with intelligent, compassionate decision-making.” – full review >>
“The interviews are consistently thoughtful and engaging; besides leading them with great skill, Merchey also has a talent for recruiting lively contributors. And while the interviewees tend to be intellectuals—it’s remarkable how many of them have a Ph.D.—the dialogues always remain broadly accessible, avoiding the trap of overly esoteric digressions. Merchey has a master’s degree in clinical psychology from California State University Fullerton and is buoyantly erudite, effortlessly diving into all manners of issues. The book, which is studded with philosophical and inspirational quotes from famous personages, is a feast for both the mind and the soul. An endlessly engrossing catalog of philosophical conversations.” – full review >>
“Values & Ethics: From Living Room to Boardroom is a really impressive book.” , Historian and Assistant Director of the Academic Support Center at The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina
“There is much in this book to stir your mind and feelings; somewhere in it is a passage that will change your life –if you let it.” , Founder of The Wisdom Page; author of Toward Wisdom as well as Matters of Consequence
“The Values of the Wise Series is a treasury of ideas, thoughts, & feelings that represent the best of humane ideals. I hope it will be widely read because it could be a wonderful influence on the thinking and behavior of us all.” , Professor Emeritus of History, Boston University; author of The Twentieth Century, A People’s History of the United States, as well as You Can’t Be Neutral on a Moving Train
“Like a medieval monastic scribe illuminating manuscripts for the few, Jason Merchey is compiling the wisdom of the ages for the many – a cornucopia of insightful treasures.” , Co-founder and host of New Dimensions World Broadcasting Network; author of A Time for Choices: Deep Dialogues for Deep Democracy and co-author of: True Work: Doing What You Love and Loving What You Do
“The Left rarely talks about values anymore, which is a shame given the deep humanist roots of radical politics. Merchey has written an essential and beautiful book that might jumpstart that conversation. This book ought to be required reading for anyone interested in changing the world, for changing the world begins with changing how we think about how to live our lives.” , Professor of African American Studies and Anthropology, Columbia University; author of Freedom Dreams: The Black Radical Imagination as well as Thelonious Monk: The Life and Times of an American Original
“Jason is a wonderful writer; he has a gift.” , President of the Westreich Foundation; author of Creativity Unzipped: Why Your Thoughts Matter (with Jan Phillips)
“Jason Merchey has made available a valuable compilation; it is a rich selection of quotes relating to an array of virtues. His is a book I will turn to in my work on character and ethics education and in searching for wisdom in my daily life.” Senior Scholar, The Center for Ethics and Character, Boston University; Director of Adult Learning, Hebrew College; author of The Triumph of Wounded Souls: Seven Holocaust Survivors’ Lives
“Building a Life of Value contains an awe-inspiring collection of profound observation, advice, and wisdom. It is clear, well-organized, and has something for everybody to think about and benefit from, irrespective of the reader’s background, tradition, or preconceptions.” , Director, Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive; former Director of the International Mahayana Institute, the Tushita Mahayana Meditation Centre, Mahayana Publications, and the Kurukulla Center for Tibetan Buddhist Studies; Editor of The Peaceful Stillness of the Silent Mind: Buddhism, Mind, and Meditation
“We all need inspiration and role models; we all grow and learn from each other. The quotations in Merchey’s book provide just that — inspiration and knowledge for our journey together. ” , Executive Director of Foundation for Women
“Reading the wise quotations in this book is like taking sips from a snifter of finely aged brandy.” , Philosopher and Philosophical Counselor; Author of three inspirational books on philosophical counseling, including: Philosophical Counseling: Theory and Practice
“Values of the Wise stands out among compilations of great quotes and remarkable thoughts. It is a collection of positive, uplifting statements from writers, speakers and observers from all time periods and walks of life. It will inspire you to pursue your noblest goals and dreams. You’ll find yourself turning to it again and again.” , Founder, Chivalry Today
“This is a fascinating and useful tour of the pearls of human wisdom. No one could read this book without coming away more thoughtful about his or her own life.” , Director, Bowen Center for the Study of the Family, Georgetown University
“This book is a great resource for professional philosophers and all seekers of wisdom. The book contains a comprehensive and inspiring selection of quotations from great thinkers and cultural traditions, quotes which can be used to stimulate class discussion as well as one’s own thought process.” , Visiting Scholar in Philosophy and the Center for BioMedical Ethics at Brown University and author of Analyzing Moral Issues, Ethics for Life, as well as Perspectives in Ethics
“As someone who is writing on altruism and compassion, apology and forgiveness, this book has become very useful, and I highly appreciate this valuable compendium of quotations. I can confidently recommend it for anyone who is interested in kindness, compassion, and social responsibility because it throws some light on the need for wisdom and caring.” , Emeritus Professor of Sociology, Humboldt State University; Founder/Director of the Altruistic Personality and Prosocial Behavior Institute; Author of numerous publications on the Holocaust, altruism, prosocial behavior, and race/ethnic relations, including Do Unto Others: Extraordinary Acts of Ordinary People as well as The Altruistic Personality: Rescuers of Jews in Nazi Europe (with Pearl Oliner, Ph.D.)
“To aspire to live ‘a life of value’ – a life grounded in profound wisdom ascribed to great minds throughout the ages – is ambitious and inspiring. This book is a wonderful resource; a great gift to every ‘student of life’ regardless of age! I recommend it highly – a must for those seeking wisdom and inspiration.” , Dean of Student Affairs, Revelle College – University of California, San Diego
“One of the many illuminating quotes in Jason Merchey’s provocative compilation is Shakespeare’s ‘There is no darkness but ignorance.’ Like so many of the aphorisms that Values of the Wise brings to light, this little gem demystifies tragedy by placing its origins in the realm of the knowable. It also typifies the constructive and eye-opening character of Merchey’s highly original collection.” , Physicist, educator, and social activist; former President of Oberlin College; author of Somebodies and Nobodies: Overcoming the Abuse of Rank; Genomes, Menomes and Wenomes: Neuroscience and Human Dignity as well as Mathematics of Classical and Quantum Physics
“I love quotations and am thoroughly enjoying Merchey’s book on values. It is an outstanding collection of musings on doing something significant with one’s time and energy. Its range and insight are impressive. My favorite quotation from it thus far is from Seneca: ‘Whatever I have given I still possess.’ To illustrate the richness of the collection, on the same page is this wonderfully accurate assessment: ‘You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him.’ (James D. Miles). This observation gets at our essence: are we decent to our fellows or not? As Confucius said, ‘A superior person is virtuous, even when no one is looking.’” , UCLA Asia Institute
“In this book you will find a wonderful collection of quotations about life and its problems. Our guides to ‘building a life of value’ include prophets and politicians, saints and singers, poets and scientists – even the odd, insightful comedian.” , author of What’s Wrong with Science as well as From Knowledge to Wisdom; Emeritus Reader in the Philosophy of Science/Honorary Senior Research Fellow, University College London
“Jason Merchey has done it again; a feast of thoughtful, carefully compiled words of wisdom to nourish us all. Combined with his intriguing website, he has now truly entered the noble realm of helping others to learn.” , Co-Founder/Director of the Mortimer J. Adler Center for the Study of the Great Ideas, author of How to Think about the Great Ideas: Great Books of Western Civilization (with Mortimer Adler)
“People like quotations because they’re like golden nuggets – they’re valuable, small enough to carry in our minds, and universally respected as a currency of truth. Building a Life of Value is a treasure chest of gold, holding jewels of wisdom to illumine our way.” , thought leader, speaker, artist, and author of The Art of Original Thinking: The Making of a Thought Leader as well as Making Peace: One Woman’s Journey Around the World
“This book is Bartlett’s Quotations with a conscience. It is a goldmine of insight and inspiration. If you want to learn how to remake society, and why, this book is a good place to start.” , political scientist and author of the books The Cheating Culture: Why Americans Are Doing Wrong to Get Ahead as well as the book The Moral Center; Co-founder of Demos, a public policy think tank
“Values of the wise are cornerstones for our collective thinking. Culled from history, they perpetuate the wisdom and strength sorely needed in our global community as we seek peace and justice for all.” , Founder of Voices of Women, a grass-roots organization dedicated to peace and justice
“Values of the Wise is profound and inspirational. I keep it on my coffee table.” , Director: The Center for Applied Philosophy
“We are all enriched by Jason Merchey’s pursuit of wisdom and his willingness to share the fruits of his deep and wide reading with us. His book Building a Life of Value embodies the very spirit of philosophy in its original sense – the love of wisdom.” , Professor Emeritus of Philosophy and Religious Studies and former Chairperson of The Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, California State University, Bakersfield; author of Voices of Wisdom: A Multicultural Philosophy Reader (5th Edition) as well as Studying Religion
“Building a Life of Value by Jason Merchey is a wonderful compilation of ‘words of wisdom’ regarding values. As a philosopher, a lover of wisdom, I’ve always sought wisdom anywhere I could find it, regardless of who it came from or the time and place in which it can be located. The reader may, as I did, feel compelled to mark his or her favorite quotations, in order to more easily return to them at appropriate moments. Most of the quotes can provide food for deeper reflection, providing the opportunity for people to sort out the values they hold most dear and perhaps think of additional values important in their lives. Readers may also want to keep the book nearby so that in times of stress or other moments when a better perspective is needed, they will have that help readily available. Finally, the book may help people recognize that there is a wider array of values than the ones the ‘values voter’ focused on in the 2004 presidential election. I highly recommend the book to everyone concerned with leading a better life.” , Professor of Philosophy and Professor of Women’s Studies, Indiana State University; former Chairperson, Department of Philosophy, Indiana State University; author of The Ethics of Star Trek
“As a person committed to bringing ancient wisdom and timeless values into businesses and organizations, I find Jason’s book Building a Life of Value to be chock full of quotations and ideas from a diverse array of good people and deep thinkers. I find myself resonating with many of the wonderful bits of wisdom resident in Jason’s well-crafted book. As an author, there is nothing more fun than reading something that makes me blurt out to myself, “A-HA.” This book can be helpful as well as challenging, inspirational as well as sobering. Such is the nature of wisdom!” , author of The New Agreements in the Workplace: Releasing the Human Spirit; systems thinker and coach to business executives; former CEO
“I love this book! It’s a great compilation.” , Founder of The Body Shop; author of A Revolution in Kindness; Business as Unusual as well as Body and Soul; progressive social activist; Board Member of Human Rights Watch and Mother Jones
“Building a Life of Value is a terrific and extremely useful book that brings together some of the most important thinking we have on values and ethics. It can be helpful because this book is about wisdom – and it is wisdom that guides us both as individuals and as a people as we move through the difficult times ahead toward a more just and humane society.” , Professor of Political Economy, University of Maryland; author of America Beyond Capitalism: Reclaiming Our Wealth, Our Liberty and Our Democracy as well as Rethinking the Foundations of the Next Progressive Vision; former Fellow of the Institute of Politics at Harvard University as well as King’s College at Cambridge University
“Building a Life of Value is a well-structured compendium of the world’s multifarious treasures of wisdom with meaningful introductions to each chapter written by Mr. Merchey – readily accessible for busy readers searching for a deeper understanding of life. I like this handy and beautiful book on values and wisdom.” , Professor of International Business Ethics, University of Notre Dame; former President of the International Society of Business, Economics, and Ethics; author of International Business Ethics: Challenges and Approaches
“Building a Life of Value by Jason Merchey is a beautiful book in all ways. It looks good, is organized well and, most importantly, provides a ‘flood of words and thoughts to help make one wise.’ It would be great for one’s own personal development and life enrichment – and would also make a great gift for someone you love.” , D.Sc., Dean Emeritus of Kinesiology, the University of Western Ontario; former President of the International Society for Sport Philosophy; author of Who Knows What’s Right Anymore? as well as Whatever Happened to the Good Life?; member, Who’s Who in America, American Education, the World, and Canada’s Who’s Who; winner, the Hetherington Award; Fellow, American Philosophical Association; former collegiate-level coach
“Upon receiving Building a Life of Value in the mail, I sat down to read it; however, I soon had to get up and retrieve a highlighter because it contains so many quotations that I wanted to be sure to pass along to my students because I think they are wonderfully relevant to humane education.”, co-founder and president, the International Institute of Humane Education; author of The Power and Promise of Humane Education as well as Above All, Be Kind: Raising a Humane Child in Challenging Times
“…an indispensable anthology of apt and anodyne aphorisms.” , author of Plato, Not Prozac!, Therapy for the Sane as well as Philosophical Practice; founding president of the American Philosophical Practitioners Association (APPA)
“The ambitious concept, ‘Values of the Wise,’ provides one with a realistic and potent source to facilitate one’s growth as well as solve many of humanity’s problems.”, licensed psychologist/psychotherapist
“I recommend with enthusiasm Building a Life of Value: Timeless Wisdom to Inspire and Empower Us. The volume has been a wonderful source of spiritual enrichment for my daily contemplation and prayer, full of penetrating and compelling nuggets of wisdom that speak to every aspect of my professional and personal life. Indeed, at a time of major professional transition and geographical displacement in my own life, Jason Merchey’s volume has been both an anchor of stability and stimulant for further striving in my life. In today’s society and culture where guideposts for our conduct and relationships focus on legal regulations and technical instructions, the observations and aphorisms collected by Merchey speak to the deeper human quest for meaning and integrity from which our striving should ultimately spring. This wide-ranging collection of aphorisms and writings also reminds us that we are blessed to be the heirs and heiresses of a timeless legacy of experience in living meaningfully and reflectively, to which many cultures and spiritual and ethical traditions have contributed. Finally, I want to add that I was also particularly entranced and impressed by Merchey’s own commentaries, with which he introduces and concludes each chapter of quotations. They are marvelously insightful and eloquent commentaries about the attributes and virtues under consideration – such as respect, integrity, or courage – and are gems of wisdom in their own right. I encourage Merchey to consider expanding these and compiling them into a volume of commentaries or meditations of his own.” , Director of the Center for Applied Nonprofit Research, University of San Diego; former researcher at MDRC, a nonprofit social policy research institution
“Jason Merchey is searching the world for those bits of profound and practical wisdom that can make a positive difference for anyone. His innovative treasure hunt is bringing new gems of insight into people’s lives in a great many ways. If you want to guide your life by the values of the wise, you need look no further than www.valuesofthewise.com, or get one of Jason’s inspirational books that compile the ideas that you can use everyday.” , philosopher and doctor of religious studies; author of True Work, If Harry Potter Ran General Electric as well as If Aristotle Ran General Motors; former Professor of Philosophy, University of Notre Dame; founder of the Morris Institute for Human Values
“Merchey’s eclectic compilation of wisdom about how to live the examined life is the best possible kind of guide to real happiness: a self-help book for people who hate self-help books.” , Professor of Philosophy, University of Toronto; author of Better Living as well as The World We Want
“When Jason asked me to be a contributor to the book Living a Life of Value, I was willing because it sounded like a great idea, and I knew from a radio program on which he interviewed me that his heart was in the right place. Having now seen it, I am happy to be a part of what turned out to be a superb literary monument to wisdom.” , author of A Reason for Living and a person living with quadriplegia
“Windows of the mind open and fresh breezes blow in as you read Jason Merchey’s book, Building a Life of Value. This collection of thoughts and insights illuminates, inspires, and imagines a world where we can draw upon the best of the wisdom of the ages. Ah, if only humanity could live out a page of it successfully… perhaps with its help. Well worth reading.” , Pastor of Florence Christian Church, Florence, Kentucky
“While political hypocrites make their endless appeals about ‘family values’ and ‘godly values,’ Jason Merchey offers us a trove of genuine values drawn from many cultures and humane thinkers, in the best traditions of humanism and democracy.” , author of twenty books, including: Superpatriotism; The Culture Struggle; Against Empire; Land of Idols; Make-Believe Media; Profit Pathology and Other Indecencies as well as Democracy for the Few
“Building a Life of Value is a fascinating and important compilation of the thoughts of some of the world’s wisest thinkers. It is a multicultural approach to human values that offers a rich variety of useful and timeless ideas on wisdom. It is best when combined with the compilation of essays and quotations Living a Life of Value: A Unique Anthology of Essays on Values and Ethics by Contemporary Writers. These books and the website ValuesoftheWise.com reflect Jason Merchey’s extensive and creative use of quotations to study and promote wisdom; in this regard, he is a ‘man on a mission.’” , Professor Emeritus of Strategic Management at the Center for International Business Studies, London South Bank University; frequent writer and lecturer on the topic of leadership, and the relationship between knowledge and wisdom
“What better book to have in a therapist’s waiting room than Building a Life of Value? It is easy to read, and with a few minutes of reflection, clients will be thinking about what they value in life. It could also be useful to discuss one of the themes the book touches on in psychotherapy.” , psychologist, psychotherapist, author, and personality expert; author of Therapeutic Feedback with the MMPI-II: A Positive Psychology Approach (with Liza Siegel)
“Jason Merchey has brought together a collection of essays, insights, and interviews guaranteed to stimulate the soul and enrich the spirit. More than a “how to” approach to improving one’s life and connection with the world, Values of the Wise offers practical solutions to life’s challenges and opportunities. Adopting an interdisciplinary approach to exploring the significance of living a life of value, Jason incorporates ideas and principles covering a diverse range of viewpoints. Whether one is interested in business, philosophy, physics, medicine, or religion, Values of the Wise offers the perfect portal to gaining the understanding necessary to improve one’s life and place on the planet.” , author of A Declaration of American Business Values: Ethics, Equity and Efficiency in the New Millennium
“Among my favorite passages in Building a Life of Value are those written by Jason himself; his eloquent introductions to each section demonstrate firsthand just how inspiring and empowering – and timely – timeless wisdom can be.” , co-founder and executive director of the nonprofit Society for Philosophical Inquiry; author of Socrates Café, Six Questions of Socrates, the Philosopher’s Club, as well as Socrates in Love
“Jason and I share a love of meaningful literary works that delve down deep and quotations that so eloquently and incisively elucidate values. When I first learned of Building a Life of Value and of Living a Life of Value, I marveled at how things are connected – the books and ideas we have in common, the fact that in a world full of busy and distracted people, we met. These books are impressive compilations of a wide range of values and virtues comprised of easy to grasp quotations – but perhaps deceptively so, as they contain, pound for pound, a sizable amount of wisdom and insight. They are well-organized, very readable, very likable. As a single father who takes pains to be the best father I can be, who finds meaning from the ceaseless challenge of it, I will refer to them as I try to make the most of the teachable moments that parents like me encounter. Having high hopes for my daughters, I value the heroes and heroines, large and small, who are kept fresh in these timeless tomes. In trying to find the right words, it will be great to look up quotes by the values they represent, or by author, or subject. He obviously found quite an array of essayists to participate in Living a Life of Value – and mostly from academia. Surprising as it may be to quote Jesus next to Ayn Rand, or Harriet Tubman next to Gilda Radner, it all goes toward the same goal – helping my girls develop into women who have the values that will help them face life’s challenges, deal with life’s setbacks, and cherish life’s wondrous moments. Some day in the future when I see my girls doing great things, being great human beings, and hopefully leading our world to a better place, I would want for Jason to bask in the light of accomplishment, knowing that all the hard work he put into editing the books was so valuable to us. I know he studied, wrote, and compiled for his own benefit – such is the life of the writer, I suppose – but with wisdom, the benefit is universal if shared. I’m so happy he did share these wonderful works.” , (economics) and a single father
“I have been regularly dipping into [Living a Life of Value] and finding insight, illumination, and inspiration.” , former deputy director and director of public affairs for the Peace Corps; special assistant and press secretary to President Lyndon Johnson; former publisher of Newsday; winner of more than 40 Emmy and Peabody Awards for excellence in broadcast journalism; Baptist minister; and author of ten books, including: The Power of Myth (with Joseph Campbell), Healing and the Mind, The Secret Government: The Constitution in Crisis (with Henry Steele), as well as Faith Works: How to Live Your Beliefs and Ignite Positive Social Change
“The quotes are inspiring, and the organization of the book allows the reader’s mood to guide him/her to a suitable collection of wisdom.”
, Professor at City Colleges of Chicago; Co-founder of Global Initiative Chicago; frequent contributor to AlterNet.com, In These Times, and Salon.com; Editor/main contributor of the book, American Wars: Illusions and Realities
“Jason’s book is just the sort of thing one needs in order to find inspiration, or a useful quote regarding whatever topic is at-hand. As a social psychologist, teacher, and the leader of a large Facebook group, I recommend Building a Life of Value as a source of outstanding, progressive-minded quotes.” , Professor of Psychology, Moreno Valley College
“I have enjoyed many books of quotations throughout the years, as I did this one. Thank you!” , Professor of Social Psychology, Hope College; recipient of the Gordon Allport Prize and of three honorary doctorates; author of Social Psychology (with Jean Twenge, 12th Edition) and Psychology (11th Edition); Trustee, the Templeton Foundation
“I have known Jason for many years and can summarize that he is an extremely bright individual who possesses a marvelous intellect, curiosity about the world, high motivation, and sense of humor. He has successfully engaged in many pursuits (such as working with me to write an original Master’s thesis, start a restaurant, and develop a 13-acre parcel of land). Perhaps most notably, he developed the ValuesoftheWise.com website and published two books of collected writings drawn from many sources that provoke self-reflection and personal growth. More recently, he has built a life that combines interests and talents in matters pertaining to real estate. Mr. Merchey is a very talented individual.” , Professor Emeritus of Psychology at California State University, Fullerton; author of Methods in Behavioral Research (11th Edition; with Scott Bates) and Social Psychology (with Daniel Perlman); Fellow and Chair, Western Psychological Association;
“Living a Life of Value is a GREAT book!” , Sociologist; co-founder of Global Exchange; co-founder FairTradeUSA; co-author of Insurrection: Citizen Challenges to Corporate Power and co-author of Building the Green Economy: Success Stories from the Grassroots; called by the New York Times “the Paul Revere of globalization woes;” creator of the seminar “Sustainability Can Save Humanity from Itself” as well as “How to Build a Green City”