Alessandro Piccolomini

Alessandro Piccolomini (13 June 1508 – 12 March 1579) was an Italian humanist and philosopher from Siena, who promoted the popularization in the vernacular of Latin and Greek scientific and philosophical treatises.

Quotes

 * Prendiam il dolce ognihor che torlo accade, Se ben d’amar alquanto ivi gustiamo; Ch’ al mondo huom mai non è beato a pieno.
 * Sonetti, LXVIII.
 * Translation: Seize we the sweets of life whene’er we may, E’en though some bitter taste therein we find, For ne’er on earth can man know perfect joy.
 * Translation reported in Harbottle's Dictionary of quotations French and Italian (1904), p. 396.

L’Amor Costante (1536)

 * L’oro è quello che abbaglia gli occhi delle donne.
 * Act II. — (Vergilio).
 * Translation: Gold is the thing that dazzles the women’s eyes.
 * Translation reported in Harbottle's Dictionary of quotations French and Italian (1904), p. 337.


 * Pochi servidori si trovano che per danari non si corrompano.
 * Act II — (Vergilio).
 * Translation: There are few servants to be found who cannot be corrupted with money.
 * Translation reported in Harbottle's Dictionary of quotations French and Italian (1904), p. 394.


 * Acque quete fan le cose.
 * Act III. — (Lucia).
 * Translation: ’Tis the quiet people that do the work.
 * Translation reported in Harbottle's Dictionary of quotations French and Italian (1904), p. 243.

L’Alessandro (1544)

 * Il mondo va invecchiando e peggiorando di mano in mano.
 * Act I., Scene I. — (Vicenzo).
 * Translation: The world grows older and grows worse from generation to generation.
 * Translation reported in Harbottle's Dictionary of quotations French and Italian (1904), p. 317.


 * Io per mi pensava che in un giovine l’esser innamorato fusse il condimento di tutte le sue virtù, e che se ben alcun fusse una profonda sentina di vitii, Amor fusse bastante a sollevarlo in un momento fino a le stelle.
 * Act I., Scene I. — (Fabritio).
 * Translation: I always used to think that the falling in love of a young man gave a savour to all his virtues, and that, even if he were a perfect sink of iniquity, Love would suffice in an instant to raise him to the stars.
 * Translation reported in Harbottle's Dictionary of quotations French and Italian (1904), p. 328.


 * L’amor non si paga se non con amore.
 * Act I., Scene IV. — (Alessandro).
 * Translation: Love is never paid for save with love.
 * Translation reported in Harbottle's Dictionary of quotations French and Italian (1904), p. 332.


 * Chi ama, si fida in tutto e per tutto della cosa amata.
 * Act III., Scene III. — (Cornelio).
 * Translation: He who loves trusts the loved one unreservedly, and in all things.
 * Translation reported in Harbottle's Dictionary of quotations French and Italian (1904), p. 261.


 * Contrastan le donne per esser vinte.
 * Act IV., Scene IV. — (Il Quercivola.)
 * Translation: Women resist in order to be conquered.
 * Translation reported in Harbottle's Dictionary of quotations French and Italian (1904), p. 388.


 * Alle spese del compagno non si può imparare.
 * Act V., Scene I. — (Il Quercivola).
 * Translation: We cannot learn our lessons at our companion’s expense
 * Translation reported in Harbottle's Dictionary of quotations French and Italian (1904), p. 247.