# Alessandro Piccolomini

Alessandro Piccolomini (13 June 1508 – 12 March 1579) was an Italian humanist and philosopher from Siena, who promoted the popularization in the vernacular of Latin and Greek scientific and philosophical treatises.

## Quotes

* Prendiam il dolce ognihor che torlo accade, Se ben d’amar alquanto ivi gustiamo; Ch’ al mondo huom mai non è beato a pieno.
** Sonetti, LXVIII.
** Translation: Seize we the sweets of life whene’er we may, E’en though some bitter taste therein we find, For ne’er on earth can man know perfect joy.
** Translation reported in Harbottle's Dictionary of quotations French and Italian (1904), p. 396.

### L’Amor Costante (1536)

* L’oro è quello che abbaglia gli occhi delle donne.
** Act II. — (Vergilio).
** Translation: Gold is the thing that dazzles the women’s eyes.
** Translation reported in Harbottle's Dictionary of quotations French and Italian (1904), p. 337.
* Pochi servidori si trovano che per danari non si corrompano.
** Act II — (Vergilio).
** Translation: There are few servants to be found who cannot be corrupted with money.
** Translation reported in Harbottle's Dictionary of quotations French and Italian (1904), p. 394.
* Acque quete fan le cose.
** Act III. — (Lucia).
** Translation: ’Tis the quiet people that do the work.
** Translation reported in Harbottle's Dictionary of quotations French and Italian (1904), p. 243.

### L’Alessandro (1544)

* Il mondo va invecchiando e peggiorando di mano in mano.
** Act I., Scene I. — (Vicenzo).
** Translation: The world grows older and grows worse from generation to generation.
** Translation reported in Harbottle's Dictionary of quotations French and Italian (1904), p. 317.
* Io per mi pensava che in un giovine l’esser innamorato fusse il condimento di tutte le sue virtù, e che se ben alcun fusse una profonda sentina di vitii, Amor fusse bastante a sollevarlo in un momento fino a le stelle.
** Act I., Scene I. — (Fabritio).
** Translation: I always used to think that the falling in love of a young man gave a savour to all his virtues, and that, even if he were a perfect sink of iniquity, Love would suffice in an instant to raise him to the stars.
** Translation reported in Harbottle's Dictionary of quotations French and Italian (1904), p. 328.
* L’amor non si paga se non con amore.
** Act I., Scene IV. — (Alessandro).
** Translation: Love is never paid for save with love.
** Translation reported in Harbottle's Dictionary of quotations French and Italian (1904), p. 332.
* Chi ama, si fida in tutto e per tutto della cosa amata.
** Act III., Scene III. — (Cornelio).
** Translation: He who loves trusts the loved one unreservedly, and in all things.
** Translation reported in Harbottle's Dictionary of quotations French and Italian (1904), p. 261.
* Contrastan le donne per esser vinte.
** Act IV., Scene IV. — (Il Quercivola.)
** Translation: Women resist in order to be conquered.
** Translation reported in Harbottle's Dictionary of quotations French and Italian (1904), p. 388.
* Alle spese del compagno non si può imparare.
** Act V., Scene I. — (Il Quercivola).
** Translation: We cannot learn our lessons at our companion’s expense
** Translation reported in Harbottle's Dictionary of quotations French and Italian (1904), p. 247.