Vittorio Alfieri

Count Vittorio Alfieri (16 January 1749 – 8 October 1803) was an Italian dramatist, considered the "founder of Italian tragedy".

Ofttimes the test of courage becomes rather to live than to die.

Quotes

Vittorio Alfieri, in Le opere di Vittorio Alfieri, 1809

Tragedie, 1866 edition

• 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.