IGNAZIO SILONE

Fascism was a counter-revolution against a revolution that never took place.

Liberty isn't a thing you are given as a present. You can be a free man under a dictatorship. It is sufficient if you struggle against it.

The final conflict will be between the Communists and the ex-Communists.

On a group of theories one can found a school; but on a group of values one can found a culture, a civilization, a new way of living together among men.

An earthquake achieves what the law promises but does not in practice maintain - the equality of all men.

Destiny is the invention of the cowardly, and the resigned.

Spiritual life and secure life do not go together; to save oneself on must struggle and take risks.

The State always stands for swindling, intrigue, and privilege, and cannot stand for anything else.

Liberty is the possibility of doubting, the possibility of making a mistake, the possibility of searching and experimenting, the possibility of saying No to any authority - literary, artistic, philosophic, religious, social and even political.

I would willingly pass my life writing and re-writing the same book - that one book every writer carries within him - the image of his own soul.

The final conflict will be between the Communists and the ex-Communists.

Liberty is the possibility of doubting, the possibility of making a mistake, the possibility of searching and experimenting, the possibility of saying No to any authority - literary, artistic, philosophic, religious, social and even political.

Destiny is the invention of the cowardly, and the resigned.

Fascism was a counter-revolution against a revolution that never took place.

On a group of theories one can found a school; but on a group of values one can found a culture, a civilization, a new way of living together among men.

To grow up requires a whole life but to become old one night is enough.

Spiritual life and secure life do not go together; to save oneself on must struggle and take risks.

Liberty isn't a thing you are given as a present. You can be a free man under a dictatorship. It is sufficient if you struggle against it.

I would willingly pass my life writing and re-writing the same book - that one book every writer carries within him - the image of his own soul.

An earthquake achieves what the law promises but does not in practice maintain - the equality of all men.

The State always stands for swindling, intrigue, and privilege, and cannot stand for anything else.

Sometimes I'm haunted by the thought that we have only one life and that we live it provisionally, waiting in vain for the day when real life will begin. And so life passes by.