“Thirty centuries of history allow us to look with supreme pity on certain doctrines which are preached beyond the Alps by the descendants of those who were illiterate when Rome had Caesar, Virgil, and Augustus.”

At every hour of every day, I can tell you on which page of which book each school child in Italy is studying.

The new cycle which begins with the ninth year of the Fascist regime places the alternative in even greater relief either we or they, either their ideas or ours, either our State or theirs!

War is to man what motherhood is to a woman. From a philosophical and doctrinal viewpoint, I do not believe in perpetual peace.

Youth is a malady of which one becomes cured a little every day.

Fascism entirely agrees with Mr. Maynard Keynes, despite the latter’s prominent position as a Liberal. In fact, Mr. Keynes’ excellent little book,

Life which should be high and full, lived for oneself, but not above all for others those who are at hand and those who are far distant, contemporaries, and those who will come after.

Fascism is a religion. The twentieth century will be known in history as the century of Fascism.

Against individualism, the Fascist conception is for the State… Liberalism denied the State in the interests of the particular individual; Fascism reaffirms the State as the true reality of the individual.

The State, in fact, as the universal ethical will, is the creator of right.

I should be pleased, I suppose, that Hitler has carried out a revolution on our lines. But they are Germans. So they will end by ruining our idea.

The Italian people are disciplined, silent and calm, they work and know that there is a Government which governs, and know, above all, that if this Government hits cruelly certain sections of the Italian people, it does not so out of caprice, but from the supreme necessity of national order.

Our program is simple: we wish to govern Italy. They ask us for programs but there are already too many. It is not programs that are wanting for the salvation of Italy but men and will power.

Fascism accepts the individual only insofar as his interests coincide with the state’s.

Democratic regimes may be defined as those in which, every now and then, the people are given the illusion of being sovereign, while the true sovereignty in actual fact resides in other forces which are sometimes irresponsible and secret.

Liberty is a duty, not a right.

The truth is that men are tired of liberty.

Still willing to invest in art and poetry’s own uniquely explosive contributions to the great, and small, dramas of human history.

Composers can do things that weren’t allowed in the 17th century. Until we had composers like Igor Stravinsky and Sergei Rachmaninoff to break the rules.

I had casually rented an apartment that cost $75 a month because I expected my writing to pay my way.

The mighty edifice of Government science dominated the scene in the middle of the 20th century as a Gothic cathedral dominated a 13th century landscape. The work of many hands over many years, it universally inspired admiration, wonder and fear.

Aging will create the music of the coming century.

Thus Arm in Arm with thee I dare defy my century into the lists.

Live with your century; but do not be its creature.

Oh, if I could but live another century and see the fruition of all the work for women! There is so much yet to be done.