Giovanni Boccaccio

Poet, Novelist

Giovanni Boccaccio was an Italian writer known for 'The Decameron', a collection of stories that delve into love and human behavior.

Born
June 16, 1313
Died
September 21, 1375
Quotes
16
Rank
#452

About Giovanni Boccaccio

Giovanni Boccaccio — Life and Legacy

Giovanni Boccaccio was a pivotal figure in Italian literature, renowned for his work 'The Decameron', which offers a rich tapestry of human experiences, particularly around love and morality. His narratives often reflect the complexities of human relationships, revealing both the beauty and absurdity of love. For instance, he famously stated that 'the greatest gift of God is the gift of love', encapsulating his belief in love's transformative power. Boccaccio's keen observations challenge the social norms of his time, presenting characters that navigate the intricacies of desire and societal expectations. His work remains relevant today, as it resonates with the ongoing exploration of human emotions and relationships, prompting readers to reflect on their own experiences with love and desire.

Quote collection

Giovanni Boccaccio quotes

16 quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.

Giovanni Boccaccio Poet, Novelist
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"To have compassion for those who suffer is a human quality which everyone should possess, especially those who have required comfort themselves in the past and have managed to find it in others."

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"You must read, you must persevere, you must sit up nights, you must inquire, and exert the utmost power of your mind. If one way does not lead to the desired meaning, take another; if obstacles arise, then still another; until, if your strength holds out, you will find that clear which at first looked dark."

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Giovanni Boccaccio Poet, Novelist
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"It's better to repent what you enjoyed than to repent not having enjoyed anything."

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Giovanni Boccaccio Poet, Novelist
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"While farmers generally allow one rooster for ten hens, ten men are scarcely sufficient to service one woman."

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Giovanni Boccaccio Poet, Novelist
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"In the affairs of this world, poverty alone is without envy."

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Giovanni Boccaccio Poet, Novelist
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"People tend to believe the bad rather than the good."

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Giovanni Boccaccio Poet, Novelist
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"Nothing is so indecent that it cannot be said to another person if the proper words are used to convey it."

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Giovanni Boccaccio Poet, Novelist
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"In this world, you only get what you grab for."

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Giovanni Boccaccio Poet, Novelist
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"Although love dwells in gorgeous palaces, and sumptuous apartments, more willingly than in miserable and desolate cottages, it cannot be denied but that he sometimes causes his power to be felt in the gloomy recesses of forests, among the most bleak and rugged mountains, and in the dreary caves of a desert."

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Giovanni Boccaccio Poet, Novelist
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"Heaven would indeed be heaven if lovers were there permitted as much enjoyment as they had experienced on earth."

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Giovanni Boccaccio Poet, Novelist
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"My mind is wholly possessed by Love, who rules every part there of, in virtue of his all-embracing deity."

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Giovanni Boccaccio Poet, Novelist
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"Kissed mouth don’t lose its fortune, on the contrary it renews itself just as the moon does."

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Giovanni Boccaccio Poet, Novelist
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"Do as we say, and not as we do. [Lat., Faites ce que nous disons, et ne faites pas ce que nous faisons.]"

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"No-thing less splendid than a golden sepulchre would have suited so noble a heart."

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"Much is required of those who are happy, especially if they have needed comforting in the past, and have received it."

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