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.