Italy

"I began by playing for the biggest club in the Lorraine region, went on to the biggest club in France and ended up with the biggest in the world."

"I'm proud to be a "juventino", to be a "bandiera", like you define me to be often, in reality I'm just a small part of a big black & white "bandiera" (flag) that grows with the years and if you look closely your name is part of it... To continue making this "bandiera" grow we need everybody: let's stay united."

"My bond with Juventus is very strong and I have a love for this club that goes beyond many other considerations. It’s no coincidence I stayed this year even after some difficult moments."

"There were players like Bettega, Haller, Causio. We had talent, speed, imagination and dynamism. Later we improved our physical strength and experience by adding players like Boninsegna and Benetti. However the first Juventus still remains my favourite one."

"My first Juventus was built in the name of Trapattoni. He was the right coach to cement our group."

"You never know, I could have done the same thing as Platini. His career really took off when he signed for Juventus."

"As news it's every bit as startling as snow in Siberia or Paul Gascoigne in rehab, but there you have it: Juventus are champions of Italy, for the 27th time."

"When we first played in the Champions League they [Juventus] were the top team, they were who we were aspiring to be like."

"[Juventus were] the team of gentlemen, industrial pioneers, Jesuits, conservatives and the wealthy bourgeois."

"Juventus have given me everything. I acquired my winning mentality here; the one which makes you say every game is a battle. I've learnt to be demanding with myself and how to meet difficulties and overcome them."

"Juve will always be Juve. There are a number of teams that have a winning spirit built in and Juventus are one of them."

"As you travel across southern Italy, it is entirely normal to see entire teams of young players decked out in Juve shirts in kickabouts, hundreds of miles from Turin. Juventus have far more fans outside Turin than in their home-town. When they play in Sicily, or Calabria, or Milan, or Sardinia, they attract—and have always attracted—sell-out crowds."

"The men can go away, the executives can go away, but what is really though in this society are the players who has been handed down the feel of winning, of being the absolute best, which isn't equal to any other team."

"I played in two of the biggest clubs in the world. There are others, but it is difficult to match the Juve or Real Madrid honours."

"A couple of years ago I nearly went to Juve. People spoke to me about Turin, and said it is this and it is that, but Milan would be nicer. I said 'I'm not going for the bloody shops; I'm going because it's Juventus."

"Juventus are an institution like none other in football; La Vecchia Signora is a national icon of Italy in a way that is incomparable across Europe. In Spain, that iconography is complicated by rivalry between [Real] Madrid in Castile and Catalan Barcelona; in English terms, one could only liken Juventus to an entity that combined Liverpool and Manchester United with the Aston Villa of yore. Bayern Munich, though founded in 1900, just do not have the history, having won the German title only once before 1969."

"Bologna la grassa, Firenze la bella, Genova la superba, Lucca l’industriosa, Mantua la gloriosa, Milano la grande, Padova la forte, Pavia la dotta, Veneziala gran mendica, Verona la degna."

"Bologna the rich (or fat), Florence the beautiful, Genoa the superb, Lucca the busy, Mantua the glorious, Milan the grand, Padua the strong, Pavia the learned, Venice the great beggar, Verona the worthy."

"For wheresoe'er I turn my ravish'd eyes, Gay gilded scenes and shining prospects rise, Poetic fields encompass me around, And still I seem to tread on classic ground."

"Italians said: 'You're Greater than the Cassius of old'. We like your name, we like your game, So make Rome your home if you will. I said I appreciate your kind hospitality, But the USA is my country still."

"If maps were shaded like balance sheets, the bottom part of mainland Europe would be deepest red. Italy, Spain and Portugal are heavily in debt. They are also Catholic countries. Their predominantly Protestant neighbours to the north, including Germany and Scandinavia, are in comparatively good shape financially. Is that simply a coincidence, or is Max Weber's theory about the Protestant ethic being intertwined with the spirit of capitalism still valid, over 100 years on?"

"Iuravit in mea verba tota Italia."

"Six o'clock already; I was just in the middle of a dream. I was kissing Valentino, by a crystal-blue Italian stream."

"Speaking of normal visiting hours, Italy doesn't have any, as far as we can tell. Nothing is ever open when it's supposed to be open or closed when it's supposed to be closed, nor does it cost what it's supposed to cost. Also, the buses never seem to go where they're supposed to go. We realize we're making a sweeping generalization here, but as Giraldus Cambrensis so eloquently put it in Topgographia Hibernica, "tough shit." Nevertheless we urge you to spend some time in this country, although as a precautionary measure you should lose a couple of hundred pounds first."

"Italy, my Italy! Queen Mary's saying serves for me (When fortune's malice Lost her Calais) "Open my heart and you will see Graved inside of it, 'Italy.'""

"Venice once was dear, The pleasant place of all festivity, The revel of the earth, the masque of Italy."

"Ungrateful Florence! Dante sleeps afar, Like Scipio, buried by the upbraiding shore."

"The Niobe of nations! there she stands, Childless and crownless, in her voiceless woe."

"It is true that there was already a divide between the north and the south, but it is no less true that the unification of Italy was paradoxically achieved by accentuating this divide. The real industrial take-off of the north took place with money and labour from the south, and this gap has actually widened. The fight against brigandage was something horrible. The royal army, the royal carabinieri and the royal bersaglieri behaved like a colonial army. These things need to be said and taught in schools."

"Italy's youngsters complain, apparently, about having to live at home until they are 72 but that's because they spend all their money on suits and coffee and Alfa Romeos rather than mortgages."

"In speaking of Italy, romance has omitted for once to exaggerate."

"[T]he deepest level of hell is reserved for traitors. Why traitors? Because they make life in community impossible. In medieval Italy, cities were in a frequent state of war with each other. When they closed the city gates at night, everybody in the city had to trust that no one would open the gates during the night and let in troops of the enemy. If you could not have that trust, you couldn’t sleep. You couldn’t live, for fear that your neighbor would betray you, and everyone, to the enemy. To render everyone isolated from everyone else, and living in fear — this was hell."

"Italia, Italia, O tu cui feo la sorte, Dono infelice di bellezza, ond' hai Funesta dote d'infiniti guai Che in fronte scritti per gran dogha porte"

"Beyond the Alps lies Italy."

"Throughout all Italy beside, What does one find, but Want and Pride? Farces of Superstitious folly, Decay, Distress and Melancholy: The Havock of Despotick Power, A Country rich, its owners poor; Unpeopled towns, and Lands untilled, Bodys uncloathed, and mouths unfilled. The nobles miserably great, In painted Domes and empty state, Too proud to work, too poor to eat, No arts the meaner sort employ, They nought approve, nor ought enjoy. Each blown from misery grows a Saint, He prays from Idleness and fast from Want."

"[I]n Italy, for thirty years under the Borgias, they had warfare, terror, murder, and bloodshed, but they produced Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and the Renaissance. In Switzerland, they had brotherly love, and they had 500 years of democracy and peace. And what did that produce? The cuckoo clock."

"L'Italia farà da sé."

"Has Chinese espionage penetrated inside the Italian institutions? Or has somebody been bribed by money from Beijing? We are unable to answer these questions. But we are waiting to hear from those who can and should answer them."

"I was travelling northward, in 1870, after four months spent, for the first time, in Italy. It was the middle of January, and I had found myself, unexpectedly, forced to return to England for the rest of the winter. It was an insufferable disappointment; I was wretched and broken-hearted. Italy appeared to me at that time so much better than anything else in the world, that to rise from table in the middle of the feast was a prospect of being hungry for the rest of my days."

"A man who has not been in Italy, is always conscious of an inferiority, from his not having seen what it is expected a man should see."

"[of the Sicilians] They never want to improve. They think themselves perfect. Their vanity is greater than their misery."

"Italy is, after France and perhaps in the same degree, the land in which love of country has the deepest roots in the hearts of its inhabitants. The fact is that perhaps nowhere else has nature been so prodigal with its enchantments and seductions. Therefore, although Italy has been, since the fall of the Caesars, the object of European covetousness, the eternal battlefield of powerful neighbors, and the theatre of the fiercest and most prolonged civil wars, her children have always refused to leave her. Save for some commercial colonies hastily thrown upon the shores of Asia by Genoa and Venice, history has not, in fact, recorded in Italy any important outward movement of population."

"The European Union and many of its countries, which used to take initiatives in the United Nations for peaceful settlements of conflict, are now one of the most important war assets of the U.S./NATO front. Many countries have also been drawn into complicity in breaking international law through U.S./U.K./NATO wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, and so on."

"Fratelli d'Italia, l'Italia s'è desta, dell'elmo di Scipio s'è cinta la testa."

"In Italia, chi si fa valere all'estero non viene considerato."

"France is a country you have to drive through to get to Italy. That's all it's for."

"We who have seen Italia in the throes, Half risen but to be hurled to ground, and now, Like a ripe field of wheat where once drove plough, All bounteous as she is fair, we think of those Who blew the breath of life into her frame: Cavour, Mazzini, Garibaldi: Three: Her Brain, her Soul, her Sword; and set her free ruinous discords, with one lustrous aim."

"Gli Italiani tutti ladroni."

"Tutti no... buona parte sì."

"I'm back from the last inspection now. In these 72 endless hours the hours of sleep can be counted on the fingers of one hand and interrupted by a thousand thoughts for my fellow citizens, for my land. We have a myriad of disasters and open fronts"

"On desperate seas long wont to roam, Thy hyacinth hair, thy classic face, Thy naiad airs have brought me home To the glory that was Greece And the grandeur that was Rome."

"Haec est Italia diis sacra"

"Italy, having entered the war for gain and paid dearly in the outcome, emerged from the peace conference with a strong sense of grievance and with its system of government profoundly undermined. Steadily there after it became the endorser and ally of international gangsterism."

"My soul to-day Is far away Sailing the Vesuvian Bay"

""Look about you, and don't talk nor listen to talking"."

"Italy, and the spring and first love all together should suffice to make the gloomiest person happy."

"How beautiful is sunset when the glow Of Heaven descends upon a land like thee, Thou Paradise of exiles, Italy!"

"Some jay of Italy, Whose mother was her painting, hath betray'd him: Poor I am stale, a garment out of fashion."

"Report of fashions in proud Italy, Whose manners still our apish nation Limps after in base imitation."

"Comme on craint peu de choquer la vanité, on arrive fort vite en Italie au ton de l'intimité, et à dire des choses personnelles."

"In the Hebrew language the letters of the word "Italy" mean "island of divine dew": do we also want to erase the name of our homeland so as not to offend atheists? And the national anthem that calls to God."

"Antonio Socci, Quei muri appesi ai Crocefissi..., Libero (quoted in the blog Lo Straniero), 4 November 2009."

"Enough, enough, enough! Say no more! Lump the whole thing! say the Creator made Italy from designs by Michael Angelo!"

"You may have the universe if I may have Italy."

"Sit Romana potens Itala virtute propago"

"Sum pius Aeneas, raptos qui ex hoste Penates classe veho mecum, fama super aethera notus. Italiam quaero patriam et genus ab Iove summo"

"In Italy, for thirty years under the Borgias, they had warfare, terror, murder and bloodshed - they produced Michelangelo, Leonardo Da Vinci and the Renaissance. In Switzerland, they had brotherly love and five hundred years of democracy and peace, and what did they produce? The cuckoo clock!"

"L'ltalie est un nom geographique."

"A cane scottato l'acqua fredda pare calda."

"A chi bene crede, Dio provvede."

"A chi parla poco, gli basta la metà del cervello."

"A chi un segreto? Ad un bugiardo o un muto: questi non parla, e quei non è creduto."

"A chi vuole, non mancano modi."

"A mali estremi, estremi rimedi."

"A goccia a goccia s'incava la pietra."

"A padre guadagnatore figlio spenditore."

"Ad ogni pazzo piace il suon del suo sonaglio."

"Ad ogni uccello il proprio nido è bello."

"Aggiungere legno al fuoco."

"Al buon vino non bisogna frasca."

"Al piu potente ceda il più prudente."

"Alla buona derrata, pensaci su."

"Anche il pazzo dice talvolta parole da savio."

"Anche il sole passa sopra il fango, e non s'imbratta."

"Anche in paradiso non è bello essere soli."

"Amare e non essere amato, quanto risponde sens esser chiamato."

"Amicizia di signore non è retaggio; chi troppo se ne fida non è saggio."

"Amor, tosse e fumo, malemente si nascondono."

"Amor tutti eguaglia."

"Anche la legna storta dà fuoco diritto."

"Andara a Roma senza vedere il papa.'""

"A caval donato non si guarda in bocca."

"A carne di lupo, zanne di cane."

"A chi dai il dito si prende anche il braccio."

"A chi Dio vuol castigare leva il cervello."

"A torto si lagna del mare chi due volte ci vuol tornare."

"Aiutati che Dio ti aiuta"

"Al confessore, medico e avvocato, non tenere il ver celato."

"Assai pampini e poca uva."

"Aspetta, caval, che l'erba cresca."

"Batti il ferro finché è caldo."

"Bella Cosa tosto è rapita."

"Bella in vista, dentro è trista."

"Ben finisce chi considera il fine."

"Bisogna accomodarsi ai tempi."

"Bisogna che si levi di buon'ora chi desidera piacere a tutti."

"Bisogna prima pensare e poi fare."

"Bisogna rischiare la scardola per avere il salmone."

"Bisogna saper afferrare l'occasione pei capelli."

"Bocca di miele, cuore di fiele."

"Breve orazione penetra."

"Buona incudine non teme martello."

"Buon principio fa buon fine."

"Buon seme dà buoni frutti."

"Can che abbaia non morde."

"Camminare sopra il filo di un rasoio."

"Carta canta."

"Cavallo riscaldato, (e garzon ritornato), non fu mai buono."

"Chiave d'oro apre ogni porta."

"Chi affoga s'attaccherrebbe alle funi del cielo"

"Chi ama me, ama il mio cane."

"Chi aspettar suole, ha ciò che vuole."

"Chi ben commincia è alla metà dell’opra."

"Chi dà presto dà due volte."

"Chi da se stesso può fare alcuna cosa, non aspetti che altri la faccia."

"Chi di gallina nasce, convien che razzoli."

"Chi di gatta nasce, sorci piglia."

"Chi disordani da giovane se ne pente da vecchio."

"Chi due lepri caccia, l'una non piglia, e l'altra lascia."

"Chi è assente ha sempre torto."

"‘’Chi ha bisogna s’arrenda.’’"

"Chi ha bisogno, domandi."

"Chi ha capo di cera non vada al sole."

"Chi ha fatto il mala, faccia la penitenza."

"Chi ha fatto il male, faccia la penitenza."

"Chi ha fretta, indugi."

"Chi ha imbarcato il diavolo, bisogna che lomeni."

"Chi ha la rouga si gratti."

"Chi ha più giudizio più n'adoperi."

"Chi ha tegoli di vetro, non tiri sassi al vicino."

"Chi ha una retta coscienza possiede un regno."

"Chi he sano e da pie del Sultano."

"Chi ha nome, ha robe"

"Chi da giovane ha un vizio, in vecchiaia fa sempre quell'uffizio."

"Chi dorme non piglia pesci."

"Chi fa da sé, fa per tre."

"Chi lascia la via vecchia per la nuova, sa quel che lascia, ma non sa quel che trova."

"Chi mal pensa, mal abbia."

"Chi male comincia, peggio finisce."

"Chi non è meco, è contro a meco."

"Originally from the Bible, Luke 11:23 and Matthew 12:30. Specified as a proverb in (Strauss, 1994 p. 974)"

"Chi non fa quando può, non fa quando vuole."

"Chi non ha cervello, abbia gambe."

"Chi non può fare come vuole, faccia come può."

"Chi non sa obbedir, non sa comandar."

"Chi non si lascia consigliare, no si può aiutare."

"Chi non tura bucolia, tera bucape."

"Chi non ha danari in borsa, abbia miel in bocca."

"Chi parla assai, falla spesso."

"Chi parla molto agisce poco."

"Chi perde sempre ha torto."

"Chi presto denta, presto sdenta."

"Chi ruba poco, ruba assai."

"Chi ruba una volta è sempre ladro."

"Chi si loda, si lorda."

"Chi si pasce di speranza, fa la fresca danza"

"Chi sta bene non si muove."

"Chi sta alle scolte, sente le sue colpe."

"Chi tardi arriva, male allogia."

"Chi tosto giudica, tosto si pente."

"Chi vuol arricchire in un anno, è impiccato in sei mesi."

"Chi vuol dir mal d'altrui, pensi prima a sè stesso."

"Chi vuol gastigar un villano, lo dia a gastigar ad un altro."

"Chi vuol' mangiar col diavolo bisogna aver cucchiaio lungo."

"Chi vuol pigliare uccelli non deve trar loro dietro randelli."

"Chi vuol saldar pinga non la maneggia."

"Ciò che Dio fa è ben fatto."

"Ciò che e rimasto ha sapore piu dolce."

"Con la pazienza s'acquista scienza."

"Con nulla non si fa nulla."

"Comprare una gatta nel sacco."

"Come la cosa indugia, piglia vizio."

"Consiglio di chi ti vuol bene, scrivilo ancor che ti paia male."

"Contro i difetti del vicin t'adiri, e gli stessi difetti in te non miri."

"Credi agli anni."

"Da chi mi fido, mi guardi Dio, da chi non mi fido guarderò io."

"Da colpa nasce colpa"

"Dai cattivi costumi nascono le buone leggi."

"Dal frutto si conosce l'albero."

"Dal riso molto conosci lo stolto."

"Danari fanno danari."

"Dare il diavolo ciò che gli spetta.fe meglio"

"Della superbia dei poveri il diavolo se ne netta il sedere."

"Delle inguire il remedio è lui scordarsi."

"Di buona volontà sta pieno l'inferno."

"Dimmi con chi vai, e te dirò chi sei."

"Dio mi guardi da chi studia un libro solo."

"Dolor comunicato è subito scemato."

"Doni di nemici non sono doni."

"Dopo il cattivo, viene il bel tempo."

"Dopo il fatto il consiglio non vale."

"Dove manca natura, arte procura."

"Du stagione tutto."

"È il tono che fa la musica."

"È inutile piangere sul latte versato."

"È meglio aver oggi un uovo che domani una gallina."

"È meglio cader dalla finestra che dal tetto."

"È meglio che si dica 'qui il tale fuggi' che 'qui il tale mori'."

"È meglio domandar che errare."

"È meglio qualche cosa che niente"

"È meglio star solo che mal accompagnato."

"È meglio un presente che due futuri."

"È sempre buono avere due corde per un arco."

"Egli e mal sordo che non vuol udire."

"Egli fa roba sull' acqua."

"Esperienza, madre di scienza."

"Fa che lo sdegno tuo, pria che tramonti il sole, trovi l’occaso."

"Far d'una mosca un elefante."

"Fare il passo più lungo della gamba."

"Fate quello che dico e non quel che faccio."

"Finché c'è vita c'è speranza."

"Fortuna i forti aiuta, e i timidi rifiuta."

"Fra Modesto non fu mai priore."

"Tra il dire e il fare c'è di mezzo il mare."

"Fuggi il piacer presente, che accena dolor futuro."

"Gettar le margherite si porei."

"Gli uomini si conoscono al parlare e le campane al sonare."

"Gli occhi sono lo specchio dell'anima."

"Goccia a goccia si cava la pietra."

"Granata nuova scopa bene tre giorni."

"Guarda innanzi che tu salti."

"Guardatevi dai falsi profeti."

"I buoni nuotatori al fin si affogano."

"I fatti contano più delle parole."

"I fatti son femmine, e le parole maschi."

"I fratelli uniti tra loro formano un fascio che pùo resistere agli sforzi più robusti."

"I ladri grandi fanno impiccare i piccolo."

"I frutti proibiti sono i più dolci."

"I pensieri fanno mettere i peli canuti."

"I primi saranno gli ultimi."

"I topi abbandonano la nave che affonda."

"Il bugiardo deve avere buona memoria ."

"Il buon sangue giammai non può mentire."

"Il dolce far niente."

"Il cane abbaia, ma la carovana passa."

"Il castigo puo differirsi ma si toglie."

"Il cuor non spaglia."

"Il denaro è fatto per spendere."

"Il denaro non fa la felicità."

"‘’Il faut prendre le bénéfice avec les charges.’’"

"Il frate predicava che non si dovesse rubare e lui aveva l occa nello scapulario."

"Il frutto cade non lontano dall'albero."

"Il male vien a cavallo e se ne va a piedi."

"Il meglio ricolga il peggio."

"Il meglio è nemico del bene."

"Il mondo è ingrato"

"Il mondo è fatto a scale, chi Ie scende, e chi le sale."

"In bocca chiusa non entrò mai mosca."

"In cento anni o cento mesi, l'acqua torna a' suoi paesi."

"In gioventù devi acquistare, quel che in vecchiaia può giovare."

"In ogni arte convien aver maestro."

"Non perché grigio il lupo è bastanato, ma perché la pecora ma ha sbranato."

"Il più forte ha sempre ragione."

"Il piu povero che sia in terra è l'avaro."

"Il primo amore non si scorda mai."

"Il remedio e peggio del male"

"Il secondo pensiero è il migliore."

"Il serpe tra' fiori e l'erba giace."

"Il tuo nemico è quello dell'area tua."

"In casa di calzolaio non si hanno scarpe."

"In terra di ciechi, beato a chi ha un occhio."

"Intendere è potere."

"Ipanni rifanno le stanghe."

"L'amor e la fortuna si cangiano come la luna."

"La barba non fa il filosofo."

"La buona madre non diceː vuoi tu, ma då."

"La fame è il miglior intingolo."

"La necessità è madre dell'invenzione."

"La pigrizia è la chiave della povertà."

"La storia si ripete."

"L'arte che tutto fa, nulla si scopre."

"L'erba del vicino è sempre più verde."

"L'invidia è annessa alla felicità."

"L'invidia non morÌ mai."

"L'invidia rode se stessa."

"L'onestà è la migliore politica."

"L'uomo si giudica mal alla cerca."

"La galline fanno l'uova dal becco."

"La gatta frettolosa ha fatto i gattini ciechi."

"La maggior' sventura o ventura dell'uomo è la moglie."

"La lepre mal si prende al suono di tamburo."

"La miglior difesa è l'attacco."

"La roba di mal acquisto se la porta il vento."

"La più lunga strada è la più prossima a casa."

"La superbia viene davanti alla rovina."

"La varietà piace."

"La vita è breve e l'arte è lunga."

"La volpe in vicinato non fa mai danno"

"Loda il mare e tienti alla terra."

"Mal comune, mezzo gaudio."

"Mal si mangia le lepre, se prima non si piglia. Literally: The hare is bad eating, if first you don't catch it."

"Male prevede chi non provvede."

"Medico, cura te stesso!"

"Meglio è tornar indietro, che correr male avanti."

"Meglio tardi che mai."

"Meglio prevedere che provvedere."

"Meglio un cattivo accordo che una buona sentenza."

"Meglio un nemico saggio di un amico sciocco."

"Mettere il carro innanzi ai buoi."

"Molta paglia, poco grano."

"Muove la coda il cane, non per te, ma per il pane."

"Ne uccide più la gola che la spada."

"Neccessità non ha legge."

"Nel dubbio, astieniti."

"Nella felicità ragione; nell'infelicità pazienza."

"Nemico diviso, mezzo vinto."

"Nessun sente da che parte preme la scarpa, se non chi se la calza."

"Nessuno è indispensable."

"Niente di nuovo sotto il sole."

"Night is the mother of thoughts."

"No se pierde nada por esperar."

"Non bisogna fare le cose a metà."

"Non bisogna puntare tutto sulla stessa carta."

"Non c’è avere che voglia sapere."

"Non c'è due senza tre."

"Non dare consigli a chi non li chiede."

"Non doe seguir amor chi non ha valore."

"Non fu mai gloria senza invidia."

"Non ha il dolce a caro, chi provato non ha l'amaro."

"Non ricordar il capestro, in casa dell'impiccato."

"Non si dice mai tanto una cosa che non sia qualche cosa"

"Non si è mai troppo prudenti."

"Non si puo fare stringhe della propria pelle."

"Non si può cavar sangue dalla rapa."

"Non si serra mai una porta che non se n'apra un'altra."

"Non si può aver il miele senza la pecchie."

"Non si tosto si fa un tempio a Dio come il diavolo ci fabrica una capella appresso."

"Non tutte le ciambelle riescono col buco."

"Non v'ha libro sí cattivo che non abbia qualcosa di buono."

"‘’Nu mesura pe altii cu palma ta.’’"

"Nutritura passa natura."

"Ode, vide, tace, feuboi vivere in pace."

"Odi, veti et tace, se voi vivir in pace."

"Ofele, fa el to meste!."

"Oggi a me, dimane a te."

"Ogni cosa ha cagione."

"Ogni cuffia è buone por Ie natte."

"Ogni cosa si compra a prezzo."

"Ogni paese al valent'uomo è patria."

"Ogni regola ha la sua eccezione."

"Ogni verità non è a dire."

"Ognun si pari le mosche con la sua coda."

"Ognuno ama la giustizia a casa d altri a niun piace a casa sua."

"Onore a chi onore è dovuto."

"Oro è che oro vale."

"Pazzo chi perde il volo per lo sbalzo."

"Per l'abbondanza del cuor la bocca parla."

"Per gnente l'orbo no canta."

"Perdere il trotto per l'ambiadura."

"Paese che vai, usanze che trovi."

"Più grande la compagnia, più ci si diverte."

"Poeta si nasce, oratore si diventa."

"Presto matura, presto marcio."

"Prudenza è madre di sicurezza."

"Ride bene chi ride ultimo."

"Qualche volta anche Omero sonnecchia."

"Quale il padre tale il figlio."

"Quand'un è per terra, ognun grida: dagli, dagli!."

"Quando l'amico chiede, non v'è domani."

"Quando la testa duole tutte le membra languono."

"Quando tutti dicono ubriaco, va' a dormire (letto)."

"Quegli dee avere un lungo cucchiaio che vuol mangiar la zuppa col diavolo."

"Quel che ciondola non cade."

"Quel che pare burla, ben sovente è vero."

"Scusa non richiesta, accusa manifesta."

"Se la montagna non va da Maometto, Maometto viene alla montagna."

"Se piovesse maccheroni, che bel tempo pei ghiottoni."

"Se un cieco guida l'altro, tutti e due cascano nella fossa."

"Se vuoi che ti ami, fa che ti brami."

"Secondo la misura che farai, misurator ancor sarai."

"Secondo la paga, il lavoro."

"Senza tentazioni, senza onore."

"Si conosce quanto vale la salute solo quando non si ha più."

"Si dice sempre il lupo più grande che non è."

"Si mira piu dell'affetto che all'effetto."

"Spazzatoio nuovo spazza ben la casa. (Italian)"

"Tal madre, tal figlia ."

"Tal mano si bacia che si vorrebbe veder tagliata."

"Tal sonata, tal ballata."

"Tra/fra moglie e marito non ci mettere il dito."

"Tutto è bene quel che riesce bene."

"Tutte le strade conducono a Roma."

"Una mela al giorno toglie il medico di torno."

"Una mela marcia ne guasta cento."

"Un nemico è troppo o cento amici non bastano."

"Uno semina, l'altro raccoglie."

"Uomo avvisato è mezzo salvato."

"Uomo lento non ha mai tempo."

"Val meglio essere matti in compagnia che savi da soli."

"Vorrebbe mangiar la foccaccia e trovarla in tasca."

"There is not in Italy what there is in Sardinia, nor in Sardinia what there is in Italy."

"This land resembles no other place. Sardinia is something else. Enchanting spaces and distances to travel-nothing finished, nothing definitive. It is like freedom itself."

"Sardinia is out of time and history."

"In the late 1800s, Europe had a peaceable bull’s-eye in the northern industrialized countries (Great Britain, France, Germany, Denmark, and the Low Countries), bordered by slightly stroppier Ireland, Austria-Hungary, and Finland, surrounded in turn by still more violent Spain, Italy, Greece, and the Slavic countries. Today the peaceable center has swelled to encompass all of Western and Central Europe, but a gradient of lawlessness extending to Eastern Europe and the mountainous Balkans is still visible. There are gradients within each of these countries as well: the hinterlands and mountains remained violent long after the urbanized and densely farmed centers had calmed down. Clan warfare was endemic to the Scottish highlands until the 18th century, and to Sardinia, Sicily, Montenegro, and other parts of the Balkans until the 20th. It’s no coincidence that the two blood-soaked classics with which I began this book—the Hebrew Bible and the Homeric poems—came from peoples that lived in rugged hills and valleys."

"People inevitably think of themselves as Sardinian first and Italian second (or sometimes even third, after European). A book written once about Sardinia was entitled The Unconquered Island, and it's true. Invaded and exploited it has been, yes, but not conquered."

"Sardinians as a race are prone to a very non latin, almost celtic wistfulness and melancholy."

"In part, the Sardinian outlook on political matters is a feature of their heritage of medieval independence. Even to peasants and herdsmen, the close, convivial world of the giudicati had great advantages over the more exploitative rule of Pisans, Genoese, Aragonese and Spaniards, and the Sardinians never forgot that they had once been in charge of their own destinies. The long wars for independence of Mariano IV and Eleonora of Arborea against Aragon created a sense of nationhood that never entirely disappeared, even though the Sardinians lost."

"The Sards themselves are not a talkative race (unless you get them going on politics or some other subject dear to their hearts). Nor are they theatrical or gregarious like other Italians, but they look frankly in the eye and treat you as a human being first before they judge you as anything else. D.H. Lawrence wondered at the boldness of women. You will probably never meet an obsequious Sard."

"The Sardinians are a sturdy race, but at the same time alert, lively, and brave, even to rashness; firm friends but implacable enemies; quick of understanding, of vivacious imagination and passionately fond of poetry, zealous in maintaining their rights and liberty, but loyal and fond of their King and Country."

"When you see Basilicata you see fields, vineyards, beautiful landascapes. You see the land as it should be."

"The popularity of Metastasio and Petrarch in the eighteenth century had caused many people to look upon Italian as an effeminate language—-a view which was now criticized by Macaulay, for example: 'It is a general opinion, among those who know little or nothing of the subject, that this admirable language is adapted only to the effeminate cant of sonneteers, musicians and connoisseurs.' Leigh Hunt, in particular, strove to eradicate this prejudice: 'One of the great objects of the present writer, for many years past, has been to lure his readers into the love of other languages, particularly of this (Italian) most beautiful of them all,' and for this reason he gave the original Italian in quotations as well as his translation."

"I didn't like university life much at Bologna. The subjects I studied - economics and business administration - didn't interest me. I wanted to make films. I was glad when I was graduated. Yet it's odd; on graduation day, I was overcome with a terrible sadness. I realized that my youth was over and now the struggle had begun."

"I am beside the lake (Como), / The lonely lake which used to be / The wide world of the beating heart / When I was, love, with thee."

"And dimly seen, a tangled mass. Of Walls and woods of light and shade. Stands beckoning up the Stelvio pass Varenna, with its white cascade. I ask myself is this a dream? Will it all vanish into air? Is there a land of such supreme. And perfect beauty anywhere! Sweet vision! Do not fade away; Linger until my heart shall take- Into itself the Summer day And all the beauty of the lake."

"And, (Lake) Como! thou, a treasure whom the earth / Keeps to herself, confined as in a depth / Of Abyssinian privacy. I spake / Of thee, thy chestnut woods, and garden plots / Of Indian-corn tended by dark-eyed maids; / Thy lofty steeps, and pathways roofed with vines, / Winding from house to house, from town to town, / Sole link that binds them to each other ; walks, / League after league, and cloistral avenues, / Where silence dwells if music be not there."

"In the past, the rich bought houses and villas only on the hills of Lake Como, as Pliny did with Villa Commedia, in order not to lose their sight and to avoid flooding. "The poor went to the shore to have the water lick their feet"."

"Everything is noble and delicate (on Lake Como), everything speaks of love, nothing recalls the ugliness of civilization."

"No sound of wheels or hoof-beat breaks / The silence of the summer day, / As by the loveliest of all lakes / I while the idle hours away."

"That there is a God, when you look at the sky of Lake Como, is evident. (Robin Williams)"

"[...] at eventide when everything seems to slumber , and the music of the vesper bells comes stealing over the water, one almost believes that nowhere else than on the Lake of Como can there be found such a paradise of tranquil repose."

"Lake Como [...] is not like Lake Geneva surrounded by large fields well delimited and cultivated with the best systems, which suggest money and speculation. Here, wherever I turn, I see hills of unequal altitudes clothed with trees planted at will that the hand of man has not yet damaged and forced to bear fruit. Among these hills with admirable lines that plummet towards the lake for so singular steep slopes [...]. Everything here nobly, exquisitely speaks of love, there is nothing that reminds you of the ugliness of civilization."

"When you write the story of two happy lovers, place them on the shores of Lake Como. I do not know a district more manifestly blessed by heaven; I've never seen another where the charms of a life of love would seem more natural [...] and start it with these words: "On the shores of Lake Como.""

"You, Lario (Lake Como) very great. (Virgil)"

"Who that looks on these tawny hills | Cradling calm day new-born, | Who that sips mead from Como’s stills | This fragrant, sun-bathed morn, Will, bating reverende, record | Fair Como’s wrathful, ways, | And wont only ungrateful, hoard | The tale of her «bade days’?» | To day her ripples play bo-peep, | And dimple at the rocks | Lack in melodious mimicry | A sounding billow mocks."

"The lake as a whole is sweet, loving, Italian. Steep close-ups, warm colors of the houses; snowy horizon and all bordered by splendid houses, made for study and for love. – Taglioni, Pasta, on the left bank of the lake starting from Como. – Villa Sommariva; stone stairway descending into the water to embark on the gondola, large trees, roses blooming on a fountain."

"It is the most voluptuous place I have ever seen in the world. Nature enchants with a thousand unknown seductions and one feels in a state of rare sensuality and refinement."

"One is still close to the mountains (of Lake Como) and yet the desire already perceives the plain and a vast silent fertility."

"Remember how we came at last To Como; shower and storm and blast Had blown the lake beyond his limit, And all was flooded; and how we pastFrom Como, when the light was gray, And in my head, for half the day, The rich Virgilian rustic measure Of Lari Maxume, all the way,Like ballad-burthen music, kept, As on The Lariano crept To that fair port below the castle Of Queen Theodolind, where we slept;Or hardly slept, but watch’d awake A cypress in the moonlight shake, The moonlight touching o’er a terrace One tall Agavè above the lake."

"Good luck."

"To heart open."

"A teeth clenched."

"With your legs up."

"Broadly speaking."

"At a rough estimate."

"At the spur of the moment."

"Get off one's chest."

"Light a light for the Madonna."

"Water in the mouth."

"Adultery, vituperation."

"Troubles, ailments."

"Drowning in debts."

"Agile like a cat."

"Add the damage to the Mockery."

"Adjust the shot."

"Sharpen your wits."

"At the end the hallelujah is sung."

"To Garibaldi."

"In the light of the sun."

"Breeding a snake in your womb."

"Raise your hands."

"Raise your hands in the air."

"Killing beasts and Christians."

"Kill like a dog."

"Go smoothly."

"Going there with one leg."

"Go hunting for crickets."

"Going to genius."

"Going to moons."

"Going to the wedding."

"Go and plant cabbages."

"Go to the slaughterhouse."

"Go to source."

"Going luxury."

"Going from bad to worse."

"To go, to enter, to be in a rage."

"Meeting one's destiny."

"Go for wool and return without hair."

"Going long."

"Leaving with your tail between your legs."

"Drowning in fat."

"Leap year, funesto year."

"Hang your hat on a nail."

"Arrive with washed dishes."

"Getting to frutto."

"Arrive when the lights go out."

"Wait for the manna from heaven."

"Wait for divine graces."

"Having lost the good of the intellect."

"Having felt the bite of the wolf."

"Having seen the wolf."

"Still have baby teeth."

"Having nerves."

"Have the St. Vitus ball."

"Have your heart on your Lips."

"Having a poisoned tooth."

"Have gall in the tongue."

"Having swallowed the broom handle."

"Have a guilty conscience."

"Having Saturday night fever."

"Have your tongue in your mouth."

"Having the moon."

"Having the curse on you."

"Have a happy hand."

"Have a light hand."

"Have a heavy hand."

"Having the sword of Damocles on your head."

"Having legs that look like Giacomo Giacomo."

"Having empty hands."

"Have hands of golden."

"Have hands made of butter."

"Having eaten in pot."

"Have many Strings on your bow."

"Having tow in the brain."

"Have on the tip of the tongue."

"Have as much intellect as a poppy head."

"Having an obsession."

"Have a devil in your body."

"Have a devil for hair."

"Have a lump in your throat."

"Having a fever from horse."

"Bacchus loves freedom."

"Dancing like a bear."

"Dancing with a penny."

"Be beaten."

"Teeth chattering."

"Taunt of fate."

"Beauty of donkey."

"Beast black."

"Forge ahead."

"Goodnight to the bucket."

"Throw sardines to catch pike."

"Fall from the pan into the ember."

"Fall from the clouds."

"Walking on a silk thread."

"Walking on eggs."

"Singing on May."

"Sing a Te Deum with the roller organ"

"House of cards."

"Search left and right."

"Look for May leaves."

"Search far and wide."

"Search for squaring the circle."

"Look for better bread than wheat."

"Search by sea and mountains."

"Look for fifteen in the odd number."

"Call the figs figs and the cup cup."

"Close the stable after the oxen have escaped."

"Pick figs at the top."

"Command by the wand."

"Like the devil and holy water."

"Like the cat and boiled water."

"Let's start by saying A."

"With these moonlights ..."

"Know your sheep. well"

"Know the mood of the beast."

"Count as the two of cups."

"Convinced but not defeated."

"Correre alla pot."

"Running the leapfrog."

"Believing in flying donkeys."

"Believing oneself to be the center of the universe."

"Believing himself to be the son of the white hen."

"Believing oneself to be the only rooster in the henhouse."

"Believing oneself to be an eternal father."

"We know the man from his clothes."

"Give butter to someone."

"Turn your brain."

"Drop a cork ship."

"Give hay to the goose."

"Give the sheep to guard the wolf."

"Give a blow to the circle and one to the barrel."

"Give a finger and get an arm."

"Go into hiding."

"Shooting yourself in the foot."

"Said, done."

"Low class."

"Out of the blue."

"Defend with teeth."

"Call it a wrath of God."

"Disintegrate in tears."

"Dividing the wheat from the tares."

"Sleeping at the hotel of the moon."

"Sleeping like a dormouse."

"Sleeping like a bear."

"Sleep like a rock."

"Last from morning to evening."

"Last the space of one morning."

"And not a percent of him is happy."

"It's as easy as drinking a glass of water."

"It's the bird's song."

"It's the congregation of Saint Andrew: the desire has passed and the idea remains."

"It's the usual chant."

"He is more of a beast than a Christian."

"It's easier to advise than to do."

"Getting involved."

"Being on horseback."

"Being in the light."

"Being in seventh heaven]."

"Being an article of faith."

"Being blessed by luck."

"Being like cat and dog."

"Be like smoke in the eyes."

"Be like the cat and the fox."

"Be like the Arabian phoenix."

"Be like the wandering Jew."

"Be like the cathedral factory."

"Be like the Madonna of the Seven Sorrows."

"Be like the three Graces."

"Be like an open book."

"Being with a rope around your neck."

"Being known as the weed."

"Being of easy virtue."

"Be of sleeve wide."

"Being fasting of one thing."

"Being a woman and Madonna."

"Being two souls in a kernel."

"Being made pot and bowl."

"Be happy like a Easter."

"Being outside yourself."

"Being the workhorse."

"Being the devil and the cross."

"Being the bone of contention."

"Being high sea."

"Being involved."

"Being on the front line."

"Being four cats."

"Being the elephant in a porcelain shop."

"Being the Blue Fairy."

"Being the fairytale of the town."

"Being the black hen."

"Be the apple of one's eyes."

"Being the Pilgrim Madonna."

"Being the tip of the diamond."

"Being in Nirvana."

"Being in the lion's den."

"Being up someone's sleeve."

"Being bald like a [[billiard] ball]."

"Being full as an egg."

"Being poor in canna."

"Being on the edge of wool."

"Being broke."

"Being on the crest of the wave."

"Being on the spine."

"Being all flowers and pods."

"Being all Saints and Madonnas."

"Being a different kettle of fish."

"Being a devil in the flesh."

"Being a Pharisee."

"Being a smart guy with three crushes."

"Being a Ganymede."

"Being an wrath of God."

"Being a closed book."

"Being a man of little faith."

"Being a bonanza."

"Being a leaf in the wind."

"Being a repentant Magdalene."

"Being a skewered Madonna."

"Being a godsend."

"Being a snake."

"Bronze face."

"Making castles in the air."

"Do of necessity virtue."

"Make eighteen with three dice."

"Cause fury."

"Making the eye of mullet."

"Shedding light on something."

"Show the moon in the well."

"Please cross it."

"Take a leap of faith."

"Do like the shrimp."

"Do like the mountain pipers, who went to play and were played."

"Do like the greengrocer's dog."

"Do like the crow on the cheese."

"Do like the cuckoo."

"Be like the dolphin who puts the [[Tuna] in the net and then escapes."

"Do like the footman who starts with the whip."

"Do like the one who was looking for the donkey and was on it."

"Bundle every herb."

"Making a fly into an elephant."

"Make the heirs happy."

"Make the accounts without the innkeeper."

"Raising hell."

"Take a tour of the seven churches."

"Being sheep wolf."

"Make the flight of Icarus."

"Being Indian."

"Being cicada."

"Make the impression of a chocolatier."

"Being a grand lady."

"Playing the part of the devil."

"Playing the lion."

"Making the pot with two handles."

"Travel more miles than a fasting wolf."

"Make a profession of faith."

"Pushing a hole in the water."

"Make a mess."

"Make a deal with the devil."

"To make God angry."

"Making a barbina figure."

"Making a grey."

"Make a lean."

"Make an omelette."

"Living like a nabob."

"Do it as master."

"Make them cooked and raw."

"Make as many as Nemo."

"Making fun of someone."

"Make oneself desire."

"Fatigue like a beast."

"February, February, short, short and cursed."

"End badly."

"Scourge of God."

"Cold of hand, warm of heart."

"Helena out, Hecuba in."

"Cat to peel."

"Generous of mouth and narrow of purse."

"Pulling the wool over your eyes."

"Throwing the handkerchief to someone"

"Throw the handle behind the shovel."

"Throw the handle behind the axe."

"Throw away the mask."

"Play as the cat with mouse."

"Swear on the master's word."

"Grace of God."

"Looking someone in the face."

"Looking down on one."

"The heart does not make mistakes."

"money is the king of the world."

"Money is everything."

"The crime wants to be punished."

"The devil is the father of lies."

"The devil wouldn't go there for a soul."

"Doing nothing."

"The game is not worth the candle."

"Fat makes fat."

"The most beautiful fig in the basket."

"In a fury."

"Tripping over a straw."

"Crown yourself with ivy after the party."

"Wear Nesso's shirt."

"Teaching cats to climb."

"Chasing a chimera."

"Understanding is power."

"Peace often does not winter there."

"The egg of Columbus."

"The class is not water."

"The goose that laid the golden eggs."

"Youth is beauty."

"Youth is virtue."

"The rain of Egypt."

"Tears of crocodile."

"Let the dice run."

"Leave something to be desired."

"Wash the pot with the water of Parnassus."

"Wash your hands."

"Work like a beast."

"Working for glory."

"Tie the donkey where the master wants."

"Tie it on your finger."

"Pulling a tooth."

"Free like a bird."

"Smoking the devil's tail."

"Smooth as silk."

"Smooth as a billiard."

"Fight without quarter."

"Send friar."

"Eating at four palments."

"Eating at ufo."

"Eat like a bird."

"Eating with the funnel."

"Eat the leaf."

"Eating for two."

"Eating someone alive."

"Beat the bush."

"Menar by the nose."

"Mix Jews and Samaritans."

"Put on iron and heat."

"Place at the foot of the cross."

"Putting your brains to work."

"Putting your finger on the wound."

"Putting the wolf in the fold."

"Put in a good light."

"Highlight."

"Put the rope around your neck."

"Put the torch under the bushel."

"Put something under your teeth."

"Dying like a beast."

"Bite the chain."

"Bite your tongue."

"Bite your fingers."

"Show your teeth."

"Move heaven and earth."

"Born with the shirt."

"Hide your head like the ostrich."

"Not by chance!"

"Don't have anything to chew on."

"Don't bother."

"Not understanding a tube."

"Not understanding one iota."

"Do not be flour to make hosts."

"Do not be of your own making."

"Don't be blunt flour."

"Be neither cooked nor raw."

"Don't be a saint."

"Don't hurt a fly."

"Don't look anyone in the face."

"Don't matter a damn."

"Not a hundred Egyptians would carry it."

"Don't lift a finger."

"Be neither in heaven nor on earth."

"You're not worth a damn."

"Nothing is impossible."

"Either eat this soup, or jump out the window."

"Eye of hawk."

"Eye of lynx."

"Everyone carries their cross."

"Now we dance."

"Pay the fee."

"Speaking like a printed book."

"Hit the ground running."

"Feed the fast."

"Pass the ditch."

"Pass into the cavalry."

"Move to the second line."

"Pass the boiling potato."

"Pass under the Caudine forks."

"By love or by force."

"Losing the light of reason."

"Losing face."

"Pound the water in the mortar."

"Crying with hot tears."

"Crying like a calf."

"Leave in the lurch."

"It's raining, government thief!"

"It will rain terribly in Egypt."

"Raining from the sky."

"Puts guard over mouth."

"Bring crocodiles to Egypt."

"Kill two birds with one stone."

"Taking life with philosophy."

"Take fireflies for lanterns."

"Catch a crab."

"Take some confidences."

"Matters of lana goat."

"Here cat is brooding."

"Fifth column."

"Tell the tale of the thrush."

"Scrape the bottom of the barrel."

"Make bread for focaccia."

"Remain by sale."

"Roll up your sleeves."

"Resume dates for figs."

"Answer in kind."

"Break the ice."

"Breaking eggs in the basket."

"Taking the plunge."

"Save goat and cabbage."

"Saving face."

"Knowledge."

"Know more than the devil."

"The priest at the altar is also wrong."

"Making ends meet."

"Digging someone's grave."

"Choose flower from flower."

"Written in the ink of the Seven Jewels."

"Writers of weight."

"If it is not true it is well found."

"Look like the Madonna of Pompeii."

"Without spine."

"Serve two masters."

"Suffering like a beast."

"Blowing on the fire."

"Split the hair in four."

"Sparger salt on the wounds."

"Put out the fire with tow."

"Squeeze like a lemon."

"Wasting effort in the wind."

"Wasting your breath."

"Stand astride the ditch."

"Stare al balcone."

"Stand in suspense."

"Stand like the dog on the chain."

"Tear tears."

"Gritting your teeth."

"Across the board."

"Wave the handkerchief."

"Burning bridges."

"Cut the fig tree to pick the figs."

"Cut the bull's head."

"Achilles' heel."

"Lots of smoke and little roast."

"Clip someone's wings."

"Hold the nets to the wind."

"Keep the staff."

"Hold the knife by the handle."

"Hold the wolf by the Ears."

"Keep in the loop."

"Keep in limbo."

"Hold on the rope."

"Head of cavolo."

"Head of turnip."

"Tighten the rope too much."

"Hitting rock bottom."

"Touch a chord."

"Remove the Chestnuts from the fire."

"Three strands make a string."

"Finding Eldorado."

"Finding one's worth."

"Finding yourself between two fires."

"Be between the rock and the hammer."

"We are all children of Adam and Eve."

"Everything goes in autumn."

"Forest bird."

"Use the stick and the carrot."

"Fable man."

"Getting angry."

"Leave the flock."

"Vase of the Danaids."

"Seeing like smoke in your eyes."

"See bottom."

"See the white lady."

"See all black."

"Sell bran for flour."

"Sell the bear's skin before killing it."

"To bring down the wrath of God."

"Vibrate like a violin string."

"Living, sleeping like a beast."

"Living in limbo."

"Wanting to silence the echo by scolding it."

"Turn face."

"Italian proverbs"

"I remember having Jewish classmates in my school who did not celebrate Christian feasts when most of the class did. I grew up in the late 1950s and 1960s in Italy, where there was a strong Communist presence, and children from Communist families would not celebrate certain civil and religious feasts either. There were also Protestant children who did not share in the joyful celebrations of the feasts of the Virgin Mary, a typical feature of Italian culture. And so on. If the law should compel the Jehovah’s Witness children to celebrate birthdays and Christmas, it should also compel children from Jewish [families and] atheist families to celebrate the birth of Jesus, which would be a serious violation of their freedom of religion or belief. A more reasonable solution is to teach [the] minors that a pluralistic society includes women, men, and children of different beliefs and cultures, and all should be respected."

"On June 3, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, President of the Italian Catholic Bishops’ Conference, criticized a modification to Article 47 of Law 22/85, which governs Italy’s financial support for religions. Zuppi stated his “disappointment at the government’s unilateral decision to alter the purposes and allocation methods of the eight per thousand tax revenue. This change undermines the original agreement between the Church and the government and effectively distorts its intended logic and functioning, resulting in inequalities that harm both the Catholic Church and other religious bodies with agreements with the state.”"

"The comparison with Naomi Campbell makes me happy because she is beautiful, but I think that this element has not influenced my success, because before coming to Italy I traveled all over the world making a career as a model. Once I arrived here I was already known and I didn't need anything else except my competence and determination."

"Fashion means so many things to me. Nowadays it has become a very important thing in people's lives. With it each of us can express our own lifestyle and personality."

"Sicily is a land that I adore, every time I have found wonderful and welcoming people. It is a land that has kept its culture and its sun intact, so as an African I find myself totally in this immense heat."

"There is also Indonesian brain rot, notably Tung Tung Tung Sahur (“which is like a stick figure with a bat, telling people to wake up for a meal during Ramadan”) and Boneca Ambalabu (“a frog with a tyre for a body..."

"Yet its massive popularity with young people is worth at least attempting to wrap your head around as an indicator of the direction of travel of online culture."

"Despite, or because of, its weirdness, the meme became a staple in TikTok’s ever-growing catalog of “brainrot” content."

"By late January 2025, the “Tralalero Tralala” sound was unavoidable on TikTok. From Brat-font overlays to phonk remixes, users leveraged the audio to gain massive views. Notable creators used it in anime edits, soccer highlights, or skits dramatizing absurd betrayal scenarios."

"(translated) Many dismiss this nonsense as the creative low point of a youth that is already lost. Is that fair? If art students were to show similar paintings in class, people would discuss meaning, intention, and aesthetics."

"(translated) What at first glance appears to be stupidity actually has artistic potential for many observers. Is what's happening digital Dadaism? Some celebrate the movement as an ironic protest genre—a deliberately senseless response by the younger generation to an equally senseless world. While real wars rage outside and the climate is deteriorating, Gen Z responds to the absurdity of reality with even more absurdity."

"They do this democratic Disney thing that doesn’t belong to anybody."

"The Prato case [of a war between rival Chinese criminal clans] is not simply an Italian story. It is a Chinese story that reveals how Beijing’s refusal to cooperate with European prosecutors amounts to complicity. The mafia is not only tolerated but instrumentalized. It provides economic leverage, channels illicit profits, and extends China’s reach into Europe’s industrial heartlands. The victims are many: exploited workers, intimidated entrepreneurs, and communities living under fear. But the larger victims are the Western economy, threatened by China’s unfair competition, and the principle of liberty itself. When a state shields criminal networks for its own advantage, it undermines the rule of law far beyond its borders."