Francesco Berni quotes

He who conveys a ring, a horse, a hat, And things like these, shows some discrimination; Mere petty pilfering a the name for that. But him who steals another's reputation, And on the fruits of others' toil grows fat, Hail thief and murderer by acclamation. (Francesco Berni)
Cursed be he who e'er has put his trust Or who henceforth shall trust in woman's heart; False are they all, and to mankind a curse; The plain are bad enough, the fair are worse.
Francesco Berni
Whoe'er he be, none more than human deem, And each may speak as good to him doth seem.
Francesco Berni
For fault inveterate, new punishment.
Francesco Berni
Each should be sure of an untarnished name, Before he ventures others' faults to blame.
Francesco Berni
Let him look to it, who is pleased with the game of Tarocco, that the only signification of this word Tarocco, is stupid, foolish, simple, fit only to be used by Bakers, Coblers, and the vulgar, to play at most for the fourth part of a Carlino, at Tarocchi, or at Trionfi, or any Sminckiate whatever: which in every way signifies only foolery and idleness, feasting the eye with the Sun, and the Moon, and the twelve (signs) as children do.
Francesco Berni
Con le calcagna pagava lo scotto.
Francesco Berni
To lose the thing we love is greater pain Than to desire and never to obtain.
Francesco Berni
And this doth overpass all other pain, To find that our last hope is all in vain.
Francesco Berni
That we may know Whether the devil doth his looks belie, And if he is as ugly as we paint him.
Francesco Berni
The loss of what we have is pain more dire Than not to gain the thing that we desire. (Francesco Berni)
Of keeping silence few have paid the cost; Of having said too much, a countless host.
Francesco Berni
For judgment appertains to God alone.
Francesco Berni
Making a virtue of necessity.
Francesco Berni
A king that would to do his duty try, Is steward, truly, and not sovereign Of those who bow to his authority.
Francesco Berni
Think not that aught the fury can surpass Of woman, when she feels that she is scorned.
Francesco Berni
For he who patience hath can all things do.
Francesco Berni
Wise is he who this hour, not year by year, Makes himself safeguards, antidotes and shields Against the weapons death or fortune wields.
Francesco Berni
Never a man unblemished virtue shows, Save when he is the butt of fortune's blows.
Francesco Berni
Nor power nor pleasure e'er can be enjoyed, What time they with suspicion are alloyed.
Francesco Berni
From one disorder oft a hundred spring. (Francesco Berni)
Mishaps How late soe'er they come, come aye too soon.
Francesco Berni
Neither in prose nor verse we aught can say, But some one said it long before our day.
Francesco Berni
Like to a leafless tree, Dry river bed, or house in pathless waste, Is gentle blood that hath no courtesy.
Francesco Berni
So those whose heads with snowy locks are crowned, More ready to advise than aid are found.
Francesco Berni