Cesare Pavese
Cesare Pavese
Cesare Pavesewas an Italian poet, novelist, literary critic and translator. He is widely considered among the major authors of the 20th century in his home country...
NationalityItalian
ProfessionPoet
Date of Birth9 September 1908
CountryItaly
history lafayette might
For women, history does not exist. Murasaki, Sappho, and Madame Lafayette might be their own contemporaries.
lies life memories richness
The richness of life lies in the memories we have forgotten.
lies lies-and-lying life memories remember richness
We do not remember days, we remember moments. The richness of life lies in memories we have forgotten.
against attacks cunning deceive defense enjoy foresee halt involving literature normal says secret steal watching
Literature is a defense against the attacks of life. It says to life: ''You can't deceive me. I know your habits, foresee and enjoy watching all your reactions, and steal your secret by involving you in cunning obstructions that halt your normal flow.''
men humiliation mourn
When a man mourns for someone who has played him false, it is not for love of her, but for his own humiliation at not having deserved her trust.
people dry should
Maybe it's better like this, better that everything should go up in a blaze of dry grass and that people should begin again.
believe men suffering
You cannot insult a man more atrociously than by refusing to believe he is suffering .
people heaven way
Anchorites used to ill-treat themselves in the way they did, so that the common people would not begrudge them the beatitude they would enjoy in heaven.
men another-man
When a woman marries she belongs to another man; and when she belongs to another man there is nothing more you can say to her.
children looks fine
There is nothing fine about being a child: it is fine, when we are old, too look back to when we were children .
past skills effort
The world, the future, is now within you as your past, as experience, skill in technique, and the rich, everlasting mystery is found to be childish you that, at the time, you made no effort to possess.
revenge deeds lasts
The act the act must not be a revenge. It must be a calm, weary renunciation, a closing of accounts, a private, rhythmic deed. The last remark.
what-matters suffering world
A consoling thought: what matters is not what we do, but the spirit in which we do it. Others suffer too; so much so that there is nothing in the world but suffering; the problem is simply to keep a clear conscience.
stupid years interesting
But all years are stupid. It's only when they're over that they become interesting.