Who said: "There is no worse robber than a bad book."

"There is no worse robber than a bad book."

This is a popular Italian proverb, which might lead you to wonder what other interesting expressions the Italians have up their sleeves. Here are a few...

"La gatta frettolosa ha fatto i gattini ciechi."
"The hurried she-cat has made blind kittens."

"La madre degli idioti è sempre incinta."
"The mother of idiots is always pregnant."

"La vita è come un albero di natale, c'è sempre qualcuno che rompe le palle."
"Life is like a Christmas tree, there's always someone who breaks the balls."

"Il bene del matrimonio dura tre die - il male dura fino a la morte."
"The good of the marriage lasts three days - and the bad lasts til death."

"Se si disperdono spine, non camminare scalzi."
If you scatter thorns, don't go barefoot.

"Al contadino non far sapere quanto è buono il cacio con le pere."
"Don't tell a peasant how well cheese goes with pears."

... and the rather intriguing:

Per un punto, Martin perse la cappa!"
"Because of a period, Martin lost his post!"

This last proverb has its roots in a tale of an acolyte monk by the name of Martin who was told to write the Latin phrase "Porta patens esto. Nulli claudatur honesto" ("Be the door always open. Be not closed to any honest person") in reference to the doors of the monastary. Unfortunately, poor old Martin wrote "Porta patens esto nulli. Claudatur honesto." ("Be the door open to no one. Be it closed to honest people."), and thus lost his right to become a monk.

More Quotes

This quote & biography originally ran in an issue of BookBrowse's membership magazine. Full Membership Features & Benefits.