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Essays And Dialogues Of Giacomo Leopardi: With Biographical Sketch (1882) QUOTES

Essays And Dialogues Of Giacomo Leopardi: With Biographical Sketch (1882) QUOTES

1 " Did you really think that the world was made for your sake ?
You need to understand that in my works, in my ordinances , and in my operations ,with very few exceptions ,I always had and still have in mind something quite other than the happiness or unhappiness of men.
When I hurt you in any way or by any means , I am not aware of it , except very seldom; just as usually , if I please you or benefit you , I do not know of it ; and I have not as you believe ,made certain things , nor do I perform certain actions to please you or to help you .
And finally ,even if I happened to exterminate your whole race , I would not be aware of it.
Obviously you have given no thought to the fact that the life of this universe is a perpetual circle of production and destruction , the two connected in such a way that each continually serves the other, to ensure the conservation of the world , which as soon as one or the other of them ceased to be would likewise disintegrate. So the world itself would be harmed if anything in it was free from suffering.

From 'dialogue between nature and an icelander '


Reproduced from 'the soul of the marionette'
John N. Gray "

― Giacomo Leopardi , Essays And Dialogues Of Giacomo Leopardi: With Biographical Sketch (1882)