Giovanni Boccaccio

human compassion unhappy

"Human it is to have compassion on the unhappy."

— Giovanni Boccaccio (1313-1375)

love palace apartment miserable cottage forest montain cave

"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."

— Giovanni Boccaccio (1313-1375)

happy comfort past

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

— Giovanni Boccaccio (1313-1375)

affair world poverty envy

"In the affairs of this world, poverty alone is without envy."

— Giovanni Boccaccio (1313-1375)

people believe bad good

"People tend to believe the bad rather than the good."

— Giovanni Boccaccio (1313-1375)

read persevere night inquirepower mind meaning obstacle

"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."

— Giovanni Boccaccio (1313-1375)

compassion suffer human possess

"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."

— Giovanni Boccaccio (1313-1375)

world get grab

“In this world, you only get what you grab for.”

— Giovanni Boccaccio (1313-1375)

rooster hens men service woman

“While farmers generally allow one rooster for ten hens, ten men are scarcely sufficient to service one woman.”

— Giovanni Boccaccio (1313-1375)