Ennio Flaiano's most famous aphorisms
The top 3 according to 15 votes from people: The political situation in Italy is grave but not serious. · A dreamer is a man with his feet firmly planted on the clouds. · The worst thing that can happen to a genius is to be understood.. (Updated Dec 7, 2020.)
The sharpest lines of Fellini's screenwriter, each with the book it comes from. «Italians always rush to help the winner» is left out: Flaiano himself credited it to Bruno Barilli.
Automatically translated (original in Italiano). See the original
Top 12
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1
The political situation in Italy is grave but not serious.
Diario notturno, notebook of 1954.
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2
A dreamer is a man with his feet firmly planted on the clouds.
Diario degli errori.
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3
The worst thing that can happen to a genius is to be understood.
Taccuino del Marziano, also in «A Martian in Rome».
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4
I break, but I won't get a job.
Frasario essenziale; a pun on «I bend but don't break» («impiegarsi» means to take a job).
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5
Whoever loves me, go ahead of me.
Diario degli errori (1965); a twist on «whoever loves me, follow me», often misattributed to Marcello Marchesi.
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6
Italian is a language spoken by dubbing actors.
Diario degli errori.
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7
Other people's stupidity fascinates me, but I prefer my own.
Il gioco e il massacro (1970).
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8
Bergman: much silence about nothing.
Frasario essenziale, playing on «Much Ado About Nothing».
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9
Today even the idiot is a specialist.
Taccuino del Marziano: «The Middle Ages of specialists begins».
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10
Avarice is the most sensual form of chastity.
Frasario essenziale.
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11
If you explain it with an example, I won't understand a thing.
Frasario essenziale.
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12
Italy is a country where Italians are camping.
One of his most quoted lines about Italy.
How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.
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Comments (10)
«Grave ma non seria», la frase che spiega l'Italia.
«Sognatore è un uomo con i piedi fortemente appoggiati sulle nuvole», bellissima.
«Mi spezzo ma non m'impiego», la mia filosofia.
«Oggi anche il cretino è specializzato», attualissima.
Flaiano sceneggiatore della Dolce Vita, un genio.
«L'italiano è una lingua parlata dai doppiatori», quanto è vera.
Flaiano andrebbe letto nelle scuole.
Bene che abbiate tolto quella del vincitore, che era di Barilli.
Bergman: tanto silenzio per nulla 😂
Bella raccolta, con le fonti.