Italy

Explore 329 quotes by people from Italy

A prince being thus obliged to know well how to act as a beast must imitate the fox and the lion, for the lion cannot protect himself from traps, and the fox cannot defend himself from wolves. One must therefore be a fox to recognize traps, and a lion to frighten wolves.

Niccolo Machiavelli

The Prince

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Topic

Man and animals

Author

Niccolo Machiavelli

Source

The Prince

Medium

Treatise

Genre

Political literature Philosophical literature

Language

Italian

Time

1532 1530s 16th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Machiavelli, Niccolò. Il Principe [The Prince]. Rome: Antonio Blado d'Asola, 1532.

Current Citation

Machiavelli, Nicolò. The Prince, translated by Peter Bondanella. Oxford University Press, 2005.

Facts which at first seem improbable will, even on scant explanation, drop the cloak which has hidden them and stand forth in naked and simple beauty.

Galileo Galilei

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Topic

Intellectual progress Scientific progress

Speaker

Sagredo

Author

Galileo Galilei

Language

Italian

Time

1638 1630s 17th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Galilei, Galileo. "Giornata Prima [First Day]." Discorsi e dimostrazioni matematiche intorno a due nuove scienze [Discourses and Mathematicals Demonstrations Relating to Two New Sciences]. Leiden: Ludovico Elzeviro, 1638.

Whatever St. Augustine may say, human creatures would not perform the work of generation if they did not find pleasure in it, and if there was not in that great work an irresistible attraction for them.

Giacomo Casanova

Histoire de Ma Vie

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Topic

Sex

Author

Giacomo Casanova

Source

Histoire de Ma Vie

Genre

Autobiography and memoir

Language

Italian

Time

1791 1790s 18th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Casanova, Giacomo. Aus den Memoiren des Venetianers Jacob Casanova de Seingalt [From the Memoirs of the Venetian Jacob Casanova de Seingalt]. Vol. 2, Leipzig: Brodhaus, c. 1822, ep. 8, ch. 16.

Current Citation

Casanova, Giacomo. The Complete Memoirs of Jacques Casanova de Seingalt. Simon and Schuster, 2013.

I found Rome a city of bricks and left it a city of marble.

Caesar Augustus

Quoted in Lives of the Caesars, by Suetonius

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Topic

Rome

Speaker

Caesar Augustus

Author

Suetonius

Source

Lives of the Caesars

Medium

Biography

Genre

Historical literature

Statement Type

Boast

Language

Latin

Time

121 120s 2nd century

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Augustus, Caesar. Quoted in De vita Caesarum [About the Life of the Caesars], written by Suetonius. c. 121.

Current Citation

Augustus, Caesar. Quoted in The Lives of the Caesars, written by Suetonius, translated by Catharine Edwards. Oxford University Press, 2009.

Laws are silent in time of war.

Cicero

Pro Milone

More information about this quote

Topic

Rule of law Law Legal theory Political theory War

Speaker

Cicero

Source

Pro Milone

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

Latin

Time

52 BC 50s BC 1st century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Cicero, Marcus Tullius. Pro Milone [In Defense of Milo]. c. 52 BC, sect. 11.

Current Citation

Cicero, Marcus Tullius. Pro Milone [For Milo], translated by D. H. Berry. Oxford University Press, 2009, sect. 11.

The chief foundations of all states, new as well as old or composite, are good laws and good arms; and as there cannot be good laws where the state is not well armed, it follows that where they are well armed they have good laws.

Niccolo Machiavelli

The Prince

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Topic

Government Political theory Law

Author

Niccolo Machiavelli

Source

The Prince

Medium

Treatise

Genre

Political literature Philosophical literature

Language

Italian

Time

1532 1530s 16th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Machiavelli, Niccolò. Il Principe [The Prince]. Rome: Antonio Blado d'Asola, 1532.

Current Citation

Machiavelli, Nicolò. The Prince, translated by Peter Bondanella. Oxford University Press, 2005.

We have buried the putrid corpse of liberty.

Benito Mussolini

More information about this quote

Topic

Fascism

Author

Benito Mussolini

Language

Italian

Time

1923 1920s 20th century

Authentication Score 1

Original Citation

Mussolini, Benito. "Forza e consenso [Strength and Consent]." Da Gerarchia. Mar. 1923.

Current Citation

Casanova, Giacomo. History of My Life, vols. 1-2, translated by William Trask. Johns Hopkins University Press, 1997, preface.

War is to man as motherhood is to woman.

Benito Mussolini

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Topic

War

Speaker

Benito Mussolini

Language

Italian

Time

1934 1930s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Mussolini, Benito. Speech in Italy. 26 May 1934, Chamber of Deputies, Palazzo Montecitorio, Rome, Italy.

Cultivating whatever gave pleasure to my senses was always the chief business of my life; I have never found any occupation more important. Feeling that I was born for the sex opposite to mine, I have always loved it and done all I could to make myself loved by it.

Giacomo Casanova

Histoire de Ma Vie

More information about this quote

Topic

Pursuing women

Author

Giacomo Casanova

Source

Histoire de Ma Vie

Genre

Autobiography and memoir

Language

French

Time

1791 1790s 18th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Casanova, Giacomo. Aus den Memoiren des Venetianers Jacob Casanova de Seingalt [From the Memoirs of the Venetian Jacob Casanova de Seingalt]. Vol. 1, Leipzig: Brodhaus, 1822, preface.

Current Citation

Casanova, Giacomo. History of My Life, vols. 1-2, translated by Willard R. Trask. Harcourt, Brace & World, 1966.

The social progress, order, security and peace of each country are necessarily connected with the social progress, order, security and peace of all other countries.

Pope John XXIII

Pacem in Terris

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Topic

Interconnectedness of all people International politics

Author

Pope John XXIII

Source

Pacem in Terris

Medium

Letter

Genre

Papal encyclical Religious literature

Language

Latin

Time

1963 1960s 20th century

Authentication Score 2

Citation

Pope John XXIII. "Pacem in Terris [Peace on Earth]." Litterae Encyclicae [Encyclical Letter]. 11 Apr. 1963, pt. 4.

Gaul as a whole is divided into three parts.

Julius Caesar

The Gallic Wars

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Topic

France

Author

Julius Caesar

Source

The Gallic Wars

Genre

Historical literature Autobiography and memoir

Language

Latin

Time

49 BC 40s BC 1st century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 1

Original Citation

Caesar, Julius. Commentarii de Bello Gallico [Commentaries on the Gallic War]. c. 58, bk. 1.

Current Citation

Caesar, Julius. The Gallic War, translated by Carolyn Hammond. Oxford University Press, 2008, bk. 1.

Men are nearly always willing to believe what they wish.

Julius Caesar

The Gallic Wars

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Topic

Credulity Human nature

Author

Julius Caesar

Source

The Gallic Wars

Genre

Historical literature Autobiography and memoir

Language

Latin

Time

49 BC 40s BC 1st century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 1

Original Citation

Caesar, Julius. Commentarii de Bello Gallico [Commentaries on the Gallic War]. c. 49 BC, bk. 3.

Current Citation

Caesar, Julius. The Gallic War, translated by Carolyn Hammond. Oxford University Press, 2008, bk. 3.

He listens well who takes notes.

Dante Alighieri

Inferno

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Topic

Paying attention

Author

Dante Alighieri

Source

Inferno The Divine Comedy

Medium

Poem

Genre

Narrative poem Epic poem Religious literature

Language

Italian

Time

1321 1320s 14th century

Era

Middle Ages

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Alighieri, Dante. "Inferno [Hell]." La Comedia di Dante Alleghieri [The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri]. Foligno: Johann Numeister and Evangelista Angelini da Trevi, 1472.

Current Citation

Alighieri, Dante. "Inferno." The Divine Comedy, edited by David H. Higgins, translated by C. H. Sisson. Oxford University Press, 2008.

In His will is our peace.

Dante Alighieri

Paradiso

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Topic

God's will

Speaker

Beatrice Protinari

Author

Dante Alighieri

Source

Paradiso The Divine Comedy

Medium

Poem

Genre

Narrative poem Epic poem Religious literature

Language

Italian

Time

1321 1320s 14th century

Era

Middle Ages

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Alighieri, Dante. "Paradiso [Paradise]." La Comedia di Dante Alleghieri [The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri]. Foligno: Johann Numeister and Evangelista Angelini da Trevi, 1472.

Current Citation

Alighieri, Dante. "Paradiso." The Divine Comedy, edited by David H. Higgins, translated by C. H. Sisson. Oxford University Press, 2008.

O pure and noble conscience, how bitter a sting to thee is a little fault!

Dante Alighieri

Purgatorio

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Topic

Conscience

Author

Dante Alighieri

Source

Purgatorio The Divine Comedy

Medium

Poem

Genre

Narrative poem Epic poem Religious literature

Language

Italian

Time

1321 1320s 14th century

Era

Middle Ages

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Dante. "Purgatorio [Purgatory]." La Comedia di Dante Alleghieri [The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri]. Foligno: Johann Numeister and Evangelista Angelini da Trevi, 1472.

Current Citation

Dante. "The Purgatorio." The Divine Comedy, edited by David H. Higgins, translated by C. H. Sisson. Oxford University Press, 2008.

My course is set for an uncharted sea.

Dante Alighieri

Paradiso

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Topic

Beginning of a journey The unknown Travel

Author

Dante Alighieri

Source

Paradiso The Divine Comedy

Medium

Poem

Genre

Narrative poem Epic poem Religious literature

Language

Italian

Time

1321 1320s 14th century

Era

Middle Ages

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Alighieri, Dante. "Paradiso [Paradise]." La Comedia di Dante Alleghieri [The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri]. Foligno: Johann Numeister and Evangelista Angelini da Trevi, 1472.

Current Citation

Alighieri, Dante. "Paradiso." The Divine Comedy, edited by David H. Higgins, translated by C. H. Sisson. Oxford University Press, 2008.

A great flame follows a little spark.

Dante Alighieri

Paradiso

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Topic

Little things make a big difference

Author

Dante Alighieri

Source

Paradiso The Divine Comedy

Medium

Poem

Genre

Narrative poem Epic poem Religious literature

Language

Italian

Time

1321 1320s 14th century

Era

Middle Ages

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Alighieri, Dante. "Paradiso [Paradise]." La Comedia di Dante Alleghieri [The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri]. Foligno: Johann Numeister and Evangelista Angelini da Trevi, 1472.

Current Citation

Alighieri, Dante. "Paradiso." The Divine Comedy, edited by David H. Higgins, translated by C. H. Sisson. Oxford University Press, 2008.

A fickle and changeable thing always is woman.

Virgil

Aeneid

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Topic

Nature of women Women

Author

Virgil

Source

Aeneid

Medium

Poem

Genre

Epic poem

Language

Latin

Time

19 BC 10s BC 1st century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 1

Original Citation

Virgil. Aenē̆is [Aeneid]. 19 BC, bk. 4.

Current Citation

Virgil. The Aeneid, translated by Robert Fagles. Penguin Classics, 2010, bk. 4.

I saw within Its depth how It conceives
all things in a single volume bound by Love,
of which the universe is the scattered leaves.

Dante Alighieri

Paradiso

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Topic

The universe

Author

Dante Alighieri

Source

Paradiso The Divine Comedy

Medium

Poem

Genre

Narrative poem Epic poem Religious literature

Language

Italian

Time

1321 1320s 14th century

Era

Middle Ages

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Alighieri, Dante. "Paradiso [Paradise]." La Comedia di Dante Alleghieri [The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri]. Foligno: Johann Numeister and Evangelista Angelini da Trevi, 1472.

Current Citation

Alighieri, Dante. "Paradiso." The Divine Comedy, edited by David H. Higgins, translated by C. H. Sisson. Oxford University Press, 2008.

O human race, born to fly upward,
Wherefore at a little wind dost thou so fall?

Dante Alighieri

Purgatorio

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Topic

Human potential

Author

Dante Alighieri

Source

Purgatorio The Divine Comedy

Medium

Poem

Genre

Narrative poem Epic poem Religious literature

Language

Italian

Time

1321 1320s 14th century

Era

Middle Ages

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Dante. "Purgatorio [Purgatory]." La Comedia di Dante Alleghieri [The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri]. Foligno: Johann Numeister and Evangelista Angelini da Trevi, 1472.

Current Citation

Dante. "The Purgatorio." The Divine Comedy, edited by David H. Higgins, translated by C. H. Sisson. Oxford University Press, 2008.