Quotes from Giovanni Boccaccio

Heaven would indeed be heaven if lovers were there permitted as much enjoyment as they had experienced on earth.

Human it is to have compassion on the unhappy

Do as we say, and not as we do

Wrongs committed in the distant past are far easier to condemn than to rectify.

it is obvious that all vices have a grievous effect on those who indulge them and often on others too. But I believe that the one which can transport us with the most unbridled haste into danger is anger. This is nothing other than a sudden thoughtless impulse, provoked by some perceived offence, which banishes reason and clouds the eyes of the mind, rousing the soul to blazing fury.

The scholar, as wise as he was full of wrath, knowing that threats only serve as weapons to the person so threatened, kept all his resentment within his own breast [...]

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

No-thing less splendid than a golden sepulchre would have suited so noble a heart.

Let this grisly beginning be none other to you than is to wayfarers a rugged and steep mountain.

La giovane, che non era di ferro né di diamante, assai agevolmente si piegò ai piaceri dello abate.

Umana cosa è l'aver compassione agli afflitti; e come che a ciascuna persona stea bene, a coloro è massimamente richiesto li quali già hanno di conforto avuto mestiere, e hannol trovato in alcuni: fra' quali, se alcuno mai n'ebbe bisogno, o gli fu caro, o già ne ricevette piacere, io son uno di quegli.

They brought it to a common saying there that the most acceptable service one could render to God was to put the devil in Hell

Mejor estaría con diablos: de siete veces seis no saben lo que ellas mismas quieren.

Of women he was as fond as dogs of the stick; but in the contrary he delighted more than any filthy fellow alive.

Senseless creatures, you don't see how much evil is concealed under a little good appearance.

So long she held on in this mourning manner, that, what by the continuall watering of the Basile, and putrifaction of the head, so buried in the pot of earth; it grew very flourishing, and most odorifferous to such as scented it, that as no other Basile could possibly yeeld so sweete a savour.

dumheden hos disse mænd og den endnu større dumhed hos dem, der tror, at de er stærkere end naturen, og med eventyrlige argumenter bilder sig selv ind, at de formår, hvad de ikke formår, og ønsker at få andre til at handle ligesom dem selv, selvom det strider imod deres natur.

here be said save that even in poor cottages there rain down divine spirits from heaven, like as in princely palaces there be those who were worthier to tend swine than to have lordship over men?

it was his custom to live for three days of the week on bread and water, and he had drunk this water with as much pleasure and as greedily (particularly when he was tired after praying or going on pilgrimage)