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.

Cesare Pavese

Categorized in : Men Practice Fool

All sins have their origin in a sense of inferiority otherwise ca... by Cesare Pavese

All sins have their origin in a sense of inferiority otherwise called ambition.

inferiority sin ambition

One does not kill oneself for love of a woman, but because love - any love - reveals us in our nakedness, our misery, our vulnerability, our nothingness.

misery doe love

The art of living is the art of knowing how to believe lies. by Cesare Pavese

The art of living is the art of knowing how to believe lies.

life lying art

Perfect behavior is born of complete indifference. Perhaps this is why we always love madly someone who treats us with indifference.

indifference behavior perfect

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.

one-day doe war

Idleness makes hours pass slowly and years swiftly. Activity makes the hours short and the years long.

time long years

The real affliction of old age is remorse. by Cesare Pavese

The real affliction of old age is remorse.

affliction real age

We commit two wrongs when we fail to right a wrong. by Cesare Pavese

We commit two wrongs when we fail to right a wrong.

commit failing two

The problems that agitate one generation are exstinguished for the next, not because they have been solved but because the general lack of interest sweeps them away.

next generations problem

A decision, an action, are infallible omens of what we shall do another time, not for any vague, mystic, astrological reason but because they result from an automatic reaction that will repeat itself.

decision reason action

What we desire is not to possess a woman, but to be the only one... by Cesare Pavese

What we desire is not to possess a woman, but to be the only one to possess her.

women desire

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.

behaviour class people

If you wish to travel far and fast, travel light. Take off all your envies, jealousies, unforgiveness, selfishness and fears.

forgiveness inspirational travel

When you dream, you are an author, but you do not know how it wil... by Cesare Pavese

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

know-how ends dream

One must look for one thing only, to find many. by Cesare Pavese

One must look for one thing only, to find many.

one-thing vision looks

It is stupid to grieve for the loss of a girl friend: you might never have met her, so you can do without her.

girl stupid loss

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.

normal defense secret

All our "most sacred affections " are merely prosaic habit. by Cesare Pavese

All our "most sacred affections " are merely prosaic habit.

affection sacred habit

But the real, tremendous truth is this: suffering serves no purpo... by Cesare Pavese

But the real, tremendous truth is this: suffering serves no purpose whatever.

purpose real suffering

I spent the whole evening sitting before a mirror to keep myself... by Cesare Pavese

I spent the whole evening sitting before a mirror to keep myself company.

evening mirrors sitting