Pietro Aretino quotes

Pietro Aretino was an influential Italian author, playwright, and satirist of the Renaissance. His bold and provocative works earned him both fame and notoriety throughout Europe. He is remembered for his fearless critique of powerful figures and his significant impact on Italian literature. Here are 14 of his quotes:

I am, indeed, a king, because I know how to rule myself. (Pietro Aretino)

I love you and, because I love you, I would sooner have you hate me for telling you the truth than adore me for telling you lies.

Pietro Aretino

Yes, let us love winter, for it is the spring of genius.

Pietro Aretino

If you want to annoy your neighbors, tell the truth about them.

Pietro Aretino

What evil is there in seeing a man possess a woman? Why, the beasts would be more free than we! It seems to me that that which is given us by nature for our own preservation ought to be worn round the neck as a pendant and in the hat for a medal.

Pietro Aretino

A high heart ought to bear calamities and not flee them, since in bearing them appears the grandeur of the mind and in fleeing them the cowardice of the heart.

Pietro Aretino

I am a free man. I do not need to copy Petrarca or Boccaccio. My own genius is enough. Let others worry themselves about style, and so cease to be themselves. Without a master, without a model, without a guide, I go to work and earn my living, my well-being and my fame.

Pietro Aretino

I keep my friends as misers do their treasure, because, of all the things granted us by wisdom, none is greater or better than friendship.

Pietro Aretino

Flattery and deceit are the darlings of great men, and so with these men spread the butter on thick, if you want to get something out of them, otherwise you'll come home to me with a full belly and an empty purse.

Pietro Aretino

With a goose-quill and a few sheets of paper, I mock myself of the universe. They say I am the son of a courtesan; it may be so, but I have the heart of a King. I live free, I enjoy myself, I can call myself happy.

Pietro Aretino

Why should the eyes be denied what delights them most? (Pietro Aretino)

Perugia is my true fatherland because there I grew to manhood.

Pietro Aretino

What evil is there in seeing a man possess a woman? Why, the beasts would be more free than we!

Pietro Aretino

Why should I be ashamed to describe what nature was not ashamed to create?

Pietro Aretino

Pietro Aretino

Pietro Aretino - Image

Occupation: Italian Author
Born: 1492
Died: October 11, 1556
Quotes count: 14
Wikipedia: Pietro Aretino

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