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Cesare Pavese Quotes

Poet

Cesare Pavese, an Italian poet, was born on September 9, 1908, and died on August 27, 1950. His poetry is deeply influenced by the Italian literary tradition and blends modernist styles.

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All Men Knows Ifs Life World Suffering Love People Doe Moments Suicide Believe Destiny Home Lying Night Remember Should Want Whole

Famous Cesare Pavese Quotes

“The man of action is not the headstrong fool who rushes into danger with no thought for himself, but the man who puts into practice the things he knows.”

Knows Men Action Practice Danger He Man Fool Headstrong

Book:This Business of Living

Source: This Business of Living

“Don't you know that what happens to you once always happens again? You always react in the same way to the same thing. It's no accident when you make a mess. Then you do it again. It's called destiny.”

Knows Way Happens Destiny Accidents Mess

Book:Selected Works: Translated from the Italian and with an Introd. by R. W. Flint

Source: Selected Works: Translated from the Italian and with an Introd. by R. W. Flint

“Now that I've seen what war is, what civil war is, I know that everybody, if one day it should end, ought to ask himself: "And what shall we make of the fallen? Why are they dead?" I wouldn't know what to say. Not now, at any rate. Nor does it seem to me that the others know. Perhaps only dead know, and only for them is the war really over.”

Ifs Knows Should Doe War Ends Seems Asks Ought One Day Rate Fallen

Author:Cesare Pavese

“Work alone isn't enough for me and mine; we know how to break our backs, but the great dream Of my fathers was to be good at doing nothing.”

Knows Enough Dream Father Work Break Know How Mines Be Good Doing Nothing Dreams From My Father

Book:Disaffections: complete poems 1930-1950

Source: Disaffections: complete poems 1930-1950

“In general, the man who is readily disposed to sacrifice himself is one who does not know how else to give meaning to his life. The profession of enthusiasm is the most sickening of all insincerities.”

Knows Men Giving Doe Know How Sacrifice He Man Profession Enthusiasm Insincerity

Book:This Business of Living

Source: This Business of Living

“When you dream, you are an author, but you do not know how it will end.”

Knows Ends Dream Know How

Book:This Business of Living

Source: This Business of Living

“People who don't know any better will always be in the dark because the power lies in the hands of men who take good care that ordinary folk don't understand, in the hands, that is, of the government, of the clerical party, of the capitalists.”

People Knows Men Hands Government Care Lying Dark Party Ordinary Folks Capitalist

Author:Cesare Pavese

“What world lies beyond that stormy sea I do not know, but every ocean has a distant shore, and I shall reach it.”

Knows World Lying Sea Ocean Shore Stormy Stormy Seas

Book:This Business of Living

Source: This Business of Living

“In fact a man in love or one consumed with hatred creates symbols for himself, as a superstitious man does, from a passion of conferring uniqueness on things or persons. A man who knows nothing of symbols is one of Dante's sluggards. This is why art mirrors itself in primitive rites or strong passions, seeking for symbols, revolving round the primitive taste for savagery, for what is irrational (blood and sex).”

Source: This Business of Living: Diaries 1935-1950

“Whatever people may say, the fastidious formal manner of the upper classes is preferable to the slovenly easygoing behaviour of the common middle class. In moments of crisis, the former know how to act, the latter become uncouth brutes.”

People Knows May Moments Common Class Know How Middle Crisis Former Latter Middle Class Behaviour Formal Brutes Upper Class Fastidious Uncouth

Author:Cesare Pavese

“The slowness of time, for a man who knows nothing will happen, is brutal.”

Knows Men Happens Time Brutal Slowness

Author:Cesare Pavese

“Remember, writing poetry is like making love: one will never know whether one's own pleasure is shared.”

Knows Writing Remember Poetry Pleasure Poetry Is Making Love Writing Poetry

Book:This Business of Living

Source: This Business of Living

“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.”

Knows Literature Enjoy Secret Habit Normal Flow Defense Stealing Reactions Deceiving Cunning Involving Halt Obstruction

Book:This Business of Living

Source: This Business of Living

“To know the world, one must construct it”

Knows World Wisdom Constructs

Book:This Business of Living: Diary: 1935-1950

Source: This Business of Living: Diary: 1935-1950

About the Author

Born: September 9, 1908
Died: August 27, 1950
Known for: Poet
Quotes: 193

Books & Sources

This Business of LivingRelated source material

Selected Works: Translated from the Italian and with an Introd. by R. W. FlintRelated source material

Il mestiere di vivere: Diario 1935-1950Related source material

This Business of Living: Diary: 1935-1950Related source material

La casa in collinaRelated source material

The Burning Brand: Diaries 1935-1950Related source material

This Business of Living: Diaries 1935-1950Related source material

Disaffections: complete poems 1930-1950Related source material

La bella estateRelated source material

La luna e i falòRelated source material

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