Catholics From Italy

"The truly historical character – also and perhaps even above all from the point of view of civil, social and ethical history: “national identity”, as we would say today – of Camporesi's reading of Artusi is particularly highlighted and, so to speak, summarised in the famous statement by Camporesi that “”'Science in the Kitchen'“ did more for national unification than ”'I Promessi Sposi . Artusi's tastes, in fact, succeeded in creating a code of national identification where Manzoni's stylistic and phonetic features failed."

"Ma cos'è mai la storia, diceva spesso don Ferrante, senza la politica? Una guida che cammina, cammina, con nessuno dietro che impari la strada, e per conseguenza butta via i suoi passi; come la politica senza la storia è uno che cammina senza guida."

"Ma la pratica generale ha voluto che [la condizione di non dir nulla a nessuno] obblighi soltanto a non confidare il segreto che ad un amico egualmente fidato, e imponendogli la condizione medesima. Così d'amico fidato in amico fidato, il segreto gira e gira per quella immensa catena, tanto che giunge all'orecchio di colui o di coloro a cui il primo che ha parlato intendeva appunto di non lasciarlo giunger mai."

"All'avvocato bisogna raccontar le cose chiare: a noi tocca poi a imbrogliarle."

"Che cosa se ne farebbe il Senato di me, di un legislatore inesperto cui manca la facoltà d'ingannare sé stesso, questo requisito essenziale per chi voglia guidare gli altri?"

"Se vogliamo che tutto rimanga come è, bisogna che tutto cambi."

"Un palazzo del quale si conoscessero tutte le stanze non era degno di essere abitato."

"No nineteenth-century writer could have written this nineteenth-century tale; but few twentieth-century writers could have handled its simplicities in the way this one does."

"Perhaps the greatest novel of the century."

"His great novel The Leopard (Il Gattopardo) has certainly enlarged my life – an unusual experience for a life which is well on in its eighties. Reading and rereading it has made me realize how many ways there are of being alive, how many doors there are, close to one, which someone else's touch may open."

"I giovani sentono i dolori più acerbamente dei vecchi: per questi l'uscita di sicurezza è più vicina."

"Noi fummo i Gattopardi, i Leoni; quelli che ci sostituiranno saranno gli sciacalletti, le iene; e tutti quanti Gattopardi, sciacalli e pecore, continueremo a crederci il sale della terra."

"Un contadino che mi dà il suo pezzo di pecorino mi fa un regalo più grande di Giulio Làscari quando m’invita a pranzo. Il guaio è che il pecorino mi dà la nausea; e così non resta che la gratitudine che non si vede e il naso arricciato dal disgusto che si vede fin troppo."

"Books should be closed each year, especially in partnership because frequent accounting makes for long friendship."

"The first published work describing the double entry accounting system and giving us insight into the logic behind the accounting entries is the Summa de Arithmetica, Geometria, Proportioni et Proportionalità... Repeatedly Pacioli stated that he described a system of bookkeeping that had been in use in Venice for more than 200 years, with the purpose of acquainting the merchants of his time with the method for keeping in good order their accounting books (chap. 1). Thus he did not mention things that were common practice a long time before 1494, as his treatise was a text for the untutored. Hence, Pacioli omitted most of the refinements common in practice of that day."

"The Ancients, having taken into consideration the rigorous construction of the human body, elaborated all their works, as especially their holy temples, according to these proportions; for they found here the two principal figures without which no project is possible: the perfection of the circle, the principle of all regular bodies, and the equilateral square."

"The quest for our origin is the sweet fruit's juice which maintains satisfaction in the minds of the philosophers."

"He is still a great player, He can shoot with either foot and can resolve a game in an instant, even with just a free-kick."

"No one would have thought that Totti would have a career like this. But even from his debut you could see that he was destined to succeed. I have a great admiration for him. Look at the likes of Giggs, Gianfranco Zola, Roberto Baggio, Alessandro Del Piero – it is hard to believe that anyone can get to 40 years of age and keep playing, but Totti could. He is a boy who loves this city. He could have won more elsewhere, but he loves Rome."

"Totti is great, at his age he still makes a difference, as Federer. I’d take him everywhere, even to dinner with me. He is really strong. If AS Roma won the Scudetto I would invite Totti for a ride with me."

"I’d love to be the Francesco Totti of Juventus. I won’t make comparisons on role or history, but I hope to end my career with this jersey."

"I want to become Napoli’s Totti."

"My idols? I have several. Totti as well is someone I like. It is a pleasure to play against him now."

"Francesco Totti is a great champion and beyond description. I’m happy to be playing alongside him."

"Totti is an unattainable champions. It does not take long to realise that he is a real phenomenon for the things that he can do."

"I appreciate the presence of a leader like Totti. He is one of the best players in history. I feel lucky to play alongside him."

"I have so much respect for Francesco Totti. Considering what he represents at Roma, he is the captain of captains."

"Can I become a symbol of Fiorentina? I dream of becoming the Viola’s version of Francesco Totti."

"He is the equivalent to the Pope. People are devoted to him, but Francesco deserves it - he is a leader and is always able to express words of praise for his teammates."

"Pablo Osvaldo, Francesco is unique. He’s not only a phenomenon, he’s actually the best Italian player of all time."

"Roma are a great side and Francesco Totti, who called to convince me to join, is a great player who I have always admired."

"You learn a lot from Totti. He is a player that is part of the club’s history, an idol of the fans. Not mentioning the Argentines, Totti is the player who gives me the most advice. He is one of those who I talk to most. There are no problems with the language, we understand each other."

"Totti is an exceptional teacher, as it’s incredible to be training and playing with him. He is a leader, which I knew, but also different to the others. His football is joy."

"Totti has impressed me most about Roma. He has been, and remains, a very important player, who has spent many years here. The other day he explained that he joined the club in 1989 and is now 35 - he arrived before I was born!"

"Totti is very important, on and off the pitch, for what he has won and for his charisma. He’s an example for everyone to follow, for the young players and for players like me who have arrived from abroad. The fact that he has played his football here for so long is proof of that. It’s always nice to watch him train."

"Except for Francesco Totti, I don’t see any club symbols or any standard bearers in this country. He made a choice to reject all other teams even if they offer more money."

"Totti is a champion, he is untouchable. He can play for many years to come at Roma. It is right to have a mix between younger players and those with experience."

"I have played with many great footballers in my career and two of them are Gerrard and Totti. Both a great players, loyal and pleasant."

"Apart from his indisputable ability as a player, Francesco is a stupendous person. I grew up a lot alongside him and De Rossi. Totti, for me, is an idol. If it wasn’t for him then I wouldn’t be here today. I’m honoured to have known him. Totti is not a problem for Coaches, but for defences."

"Totti is a treasure for Roma, He is the greatest player of all time after Baggio."

"When I was young I used to watch Italian football matches and my wish was to one day become like Totti."

"Luciano Spalletti: "I agree with Pelé, Totti is the best player in the world.""

"Arsene Wenger: "Totti is a top, top class player. He is typical of the Roman game and I’m sure he will never move outside of Roma. He used to play in behind the strikers and then one day they had no central striker so they played him up front and won game after game. He suddenly became the topscorer in Italy as a central striker. That means this guy has absolutely everything. He has a fantastic protection of the ball, he has a quick turn and then he has a very good pass in the final third of the pitch. He can be deadly with every single pass. He will certainly be the most dangerous provider in the final third for them in this game. He is not the only player who can be dangerous but he can open the defence with any pass at any moment of the day if you give him the freedom.""

"Alex Ferguson: "Of course I know Totti is the fantastic player.""

"Jose Mourinho: You know more than me what Totti means for Roma, for the Serie A, and for his team-mates. I want him to play because he's the best player in the Italian championship in terms of spectacle and quality of play."

"Dino Zoff: "Totti was without doubt Baggio’s heir. Even then I knew that he had the qualities to be so and his career and his numbers confirm it.""

"Giovanni Trapattoni: "Every player has some genius, but there's only one Van Gogh, and there is nobody like Totti.""

"Only Gigi Riva could kick the ball like him in Italy. But only with his left foot. Totti can use both feet and can hit the ball in several ways. Such champions can shoot ten times per match and eight of them are aimed on target, while five are very dangerous and can turn into a goal. Totti's shooting qualities are unique and they will stay intact for life."

"For me, he is one of the greatest players I have ever seen."

"Totti is the only current player I would've taken on my 1982 World Cup side."