Cesare Pavese Quotes

We do not remember days we remember moments.

Whatever people may say the fastidious formal manner of the upper classes is preferable to the slovenly easygoing behaviour of the common middle class. In moments of crisis the former know how to act the latter become uncouth brutes.

The search for a new personality is futile what is fruitful is the interest the old personality can take in new activities.

The search for a new personality is futile what is fruitful is the human interest the old personality can take in new activities.

Life is pain and the enjoyment of love is an anesthetic.

Every luxury must be paid for and everything is a luxury starting with being in the world.

Perfect behavior is born of complete indifference. Perhaps this is why we always love madly someone who treats us with indifference.

And then we cowardswho loved the whisperingevening, the houses,the paths by the river,the dirty red lightsof those places, the sweetsoundless sorrow—we reached our hands outtoward the living chainin silence, but our heartstartled us with blood,and no more sweetness then,no more losing ourselveson the path by the river—no longer slaves, we knewwe were alone and alive.(Translated By Geoffrey Brock)