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 More Quotes by Pietro Aretino More Quotes From Pietro Aretino I am, indeed, a king, because I know how to rule myself. Pietro Aretino responsibility kings motivational 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 i-love-you boyfriend inspirational 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 adversity mind art Angry men are blind and foolish, for reason at such time takes flight and, in her absence; wrath plunders all the riches of the intellect, while the judgment remains the prisoner of its own pride. Pietro Aretino anger pride men They merit more praise who know how to suffer misery than those who temper themselves in contentment. Pietro Aretino merit contentment suffering Love doesn't hide. It stays and fights. It goes the distance, that's why love is so strong. So it can carry you all the way home. Pietro Aretino distance strong home Flee laziness which while it produces an immediate delight, ends in the sorrow of repentance. And know that nature without exercise is a seed shut up in the pod, and art without practice is nothing. Pietro Aretino practice exercise art 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 real-friends true-friend friendship Poetry is a whim of Nature in her lighter moods; it requires nothing but its own madness and, lacking that, it becomes a soundless cymbal, a belfry without a bell. Pietro Aretino cymbals bells madness If you want to annoy your neighbors, tell the truth about them. Pietro Aretino neighbors-and-friends truth funny Let us love winter, for it is the spring of genius. Pietro Aretino jugs winter spring Nothing, it appears to me, is of greater value in a man than the power of judgment; and the man who has it may be compared to a chest filled with books, for he is the son of nature and the father of art. Pietro Aretino father book art Why should I be ashamed to describe what nature was not ashamed to create? Pietro Aretino should-i ashamed should The art of war is like the art of the courtesan; indeed they might be called sisters, since both are slaves of desperation. Pietro Aretino might war art There is no food more satiating than milk and honey; and just as such foods produce disgust for the palate, so perfumed and gallant words make our ears belch. Pietro Aretino milk-and-honey flattery ears 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 hats evil men Age has a good mind and sorry shanks. Pietro Aretino age sorry mind What evil is there in seeing a man possess a woman? Why, the beasts would be more free than we! Pietro Aretino would-be evil men We are the buffoons of our children. Pietro Aretino our-children parent children 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 style worry men