Vittorio Alfieri
Italian noble, dramatist and poet (1749–1803)
Count Vittorio Alfieri (16 January 1749 – 8 October 1803) was an Italian dramatist, considered the "founder of Italian tragedy".
Quotes
edit- Volli, sempre volli, fortissimamente volli.
- I willed, and always willed, and strongly willed.
- Risposta dell'autore alla lettera di Ranieri de' Calzabigi, 1783
- Non nella pena,
Nel delitto è la infamia.- Disgrace does not consist in the punishment, but in the crime.
- Antigone, I, 3; reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 148.
- Usurpator diffida
Di tutti sempre.- A usurper always distrusts the whole world.
- Polinice, III, 2; reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 197.
- A giurar presti i mentitor son sempre.
- Liars are always most disposed to swear.
- Virginia, II, 3; reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 485.
- Ove son leggi,
Tremar non dee chi leggi non infranse.- Where there are laws, he who has not broken them need not tremble.
- Virginia, II, 1; reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 430.
- J'avais vu les grands, mais je n'avais pas vu les petits.
- I had seen the great, but I had not seen the small.
- Reason for Changing his Democratic Opinions; reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 93.
- Alta vendetta
D'alto silenzio è figlia.- Deep vengeance is the daughter of deep silence.
- La Congiura de' Pazzi, I, 1; reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 707.
- D'uomo è il fallir, ma dal malvagio il buono
Scerne il dolor del fallo.- To err is human; but contrition felt for the crime distinguishes the virtuous from the wicked.
- Rosmunda, III, 1; reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 665.
- Sempre il miglior non è il parer primiero.
- First thoughts are not always the best.
- Don Garzia, III, 1; reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 787.
- Spesso è da forte,
Più che il morire, il vivere.- Ofttimes the test of courage becomes rather to live than to die.
- Oreste, IV, 2; reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 440.
- Che amar chi t'odia, ell'è impossibil cosa.
- For 'tis impossible
Hate to return with love. - Polinice, II, 4; reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 464.
- For 'tis impossible