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Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa

39quotes

Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa


#### Full Name and Common Aliases
Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa was a Sicilian nobleman, author, and politician whose full name reflected his aristocratic lineage. He is commonly referred to as the Prince of Lampedusa.

Birth and Death Dates


Born on December 23, 1896, in Palermo, Sicily, Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa passed away on June 23, 1957, at the age of sixty, also in Palermo.

Nationality and Profession(s)


As a member of the Sicilian nobility, Lampedusa's nationality was Italian. He worked as an author, politician, and diplomat throughout his life. His notable achievements in literature earned him recognition beyond Italy's borders.

Early Life and Background


Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa was born into one of the most prominent noble families in Sicily. His family had a long history of involvement in politics and public service. Despite this privileged upbringing, Lampedusa faced significant challenges due to his own struggles with mental health and addiction. These personal issues influenced many aspects of his writing.

Major Accomplishments


Lampedusa's literary career was marked by one major accomplishment: The Leopard (Il Gattopardo), a novel published in 1958, a year after his death. This work earned him the prestigious Strega Prize and international recognition for its nuanced portrayal of Sicilian history and aristocracy.

Notable Works or Actions


Lampedusa's writing often explored themes related to his own experiences as a member of the Sicilian nobility. The Leopard remains his most famous work, but he also wrote other notable pieces, including essays and short stories. As a politician, Lampedusa held various roles in the Italian government during the early 20th century.

Impact and Legacy


Lampedusa's legacy extends far beyond his literary achievements. His novel The Leopard has been translated into numerous languages and continues to be widely read today. It offers a unique perspective on Sicilian history, shedding light on the social and political upheavals that shaped the region in the 19th century.

Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered


Lampedusa's quotes and opinions are often sought after due to his insightful commentary on the complexities of Sicilian society. His experiences as a member of the nobility, combined with his literary talents, provide a unique perspective on the region's history and culture. Today, he is remembered not only for The Leopard but also for the thought-provoking ideas expressed throughout his works.

Through Lampedusa's writing and legacy, readers can gain a deeper understanding of Sicilian society during the 19th century. His ability to balance historical accuracy with literary flair has made him one of Italy's most celebrated authors.

Quotes by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa

Now you need young men, bright young men, with minds asking ‘how’ rather than ‘why,’ and who are good at masking, at blending, I should say, their personal interests with vague public ideals.
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Now you need young men, bright young men, with minds asking ‘how’ rather than ‘why,’ and who are good at masking, at blending, I should say, their personal interests with vague public ideals.
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The wealth of many centuries had been transmitted into ornament, luxury, pleasure; no more; the abolition of feudal rights had swept away duties as well as privileges; wealth, like an old wine, had let the dregs of greed, even of care and prudence, fall to the bottom of the barrel, leaving only verve and color.
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The wealth of many centuries had been transmitted into ornament, luxury, pleasure; no more; the abolition of feudal rights had swept away duties as well as privileges; wealth, like an old wine, had let the dregs of greed, even of care and prudence, fall to the bottom of the barrel, leaving only verve and color.
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Lovers want to be alone, or at least with strangers; never with older people, or worst of all with relatives.
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Lovers want to be alone, or at least with strangers; never with older people, or worst of all with relatives.
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Nowhere has truth so short a life as in Sicily; a fact has scarcely happened five minutes before its genuine kernel has vanished, been camouflaged, embellished, disfigured, squashed, annihilated by imagination and self-interest; shame, fear, generosity, malice, opportunism, charity, all the passions, good as well as evil, fling themselves onto the fact and tear it to pieces; very soon it has vanished altogether.
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Nowhere has truth so short a life as in Sicily; a fact has scarcely happened five minutes before its genuine kernel has vanished, been camouflaged, embellished, disfigured, squashed, annihilated by imagination and self-interest; shame, fear, generosity, malice, opportunism, charity, all the passions, good as well as evil, fling themselves onto the fact and tear it to pieces; very soon it has vanished altogether.
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Death, oh yes, it existed of course, but it was something that happened to others. The thought occurred to Don Fabrizio that it was ignorance of this supreme consolation that made the young feel sorrows much more sharply than the old; the latter are nearer the safety exit.
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Death, oh yes, it existed of course, but it was something that happened to others. The thought occurred to Don Fabrizio that it was ignorance of this supreme consolation that made the young feel sorrows much more sharply than the old; the latter are nearer the safety exit.
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Ovid tells us, in his Metamorphoses, that the young girls who were gathering flowers with Proserpina that fatal day were turned into the Sirens – the bird-bodied golden-feathered singers with female faces of the Homeric tradition – and then went wandering about over land and sea, crying out in search of their vanished playmate.
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Ovid tells us, in his Metamorphoses, that the young girls who were gathering flowers with Proserpina that fatal day were turned into the Sirens – the bird-bodied golden-feathered singers with female faces of the Homeric tradition – and then went wandering about over land and sea, crying out in search of their vanished playmate.
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Kings who personify an idea should not, cannot, fall below a certain level for generations; if they do, the idea suffers too.
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Kings who personify an idea should not, cannot, fall below a certain level for generations; if they do, the idea suffers too.
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A house of which one knew every room wasn’t worth living in.
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A house of which one knew every room wasn’t worth living in.
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We’re not blind, we’re just human. We live in a changing reality to which we try to adapt ourselves like seaweed bending under the pressure of water.
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We’re not blind, we’re just human. We live in a changing reality to which we try to adapt ourselves like seaweed bending under the pressure of water.
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In Sicily it doesn’t matter whether things are done well or done badly; the sin which we Sicilians never forgive is simply that of ‘doing’ at all.
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In Sicily it doesn’t matter whether things are done well or done badly; the sin which we Sicilians never forgive is simply that of ‘doing’ at all.
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