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75 Great Quotes By Francesco Petrarch

Famous As: Poet, Scholar and Humanist
Born On: July 20, 1304
Died On: July 19, 1374
Born In: Arezzo, Italy
Died At Age: 69
Francesco Petrarch was an illustrious Italian poet and scholar, and the earliest humanist in Renaissance Italy. He is also regarded as the instigator of Humanism. His rediscovery of Cicero’s letters is considered to have marked the 14th-century Renaissance. Petrarch’s works and thoughts formed the basis of the model for the modern Italian language which was created by Pietro Bembo in the 16th-century. Accademia della Crusca later endorsed Petrarch as a model for Italian style. During the Renaissance, Petrarch’s sonnets were imitated and admired across Europe and they also became a prototype for lyrical poetry. Following is a list of quotes and sayings by Francesco Petrarch, the man who is also known to be the first to enunciate the concept of ‘Dark Ages.' Go through the quotes and thoughts by Francesco Petrarch that will give you a glimpse of his lyrical mind.
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From thought to thought, from mountain peak to mountain. Love leads me on; for I can never still My trouble on the world's well beaten ways.

From thought to thought, from mountain peak to mountain. Love leads me on; for I can never still My trouble on the world's well beaten ways.

Francesco Petrarch
And tears are heard within the harp I touch.

And tears are heard within the harp I touch.

Francesco Petrarch
Do you suppose there is any living man so unreasonable that if he found himself stricken with a dangerous ailment he would not anxiously desire to regain the blessing of health?

Do you suppose there is any living man so unreasonable that if he found himself stricken with a dangerous ailment he would not anxiously desire to regain the blessing of health?

Francesco Petrarch
I have taken pride in others, never in myself.

I have taken pride in others, never in myself.

Francesco Petrarch
Events appear sad, pleasant, or painful, not because they are so in reality, but because we believe them to be so and the light in which we look at them depends upon our own judgment.

Events appear sad, pleasant, or painful, not because they are so in reality, but because we believe them to be so and the light in which we look at them depends upon our own judgment.

Francesco Petrarch
How fortune brings to earth the over-sure!

How fortune brings to earth the over-sure!

Francesco Petrarch
Where are the numerous constructions erected by Agrippa, of which only the Pantheon remains? Where are the splendorous palaces of the emperors?

Where are the numerous constructions erected by Agrippa, of which only the Pantheon remains? Where are the splendorous palaces of the emperors?

Francesco Petrarch
I desire that death find me ready and writing, or if it please Christ, praying and intears.

I desire that death find me ready and writing, or if it please Christ, praying and intears.

Francesco Petrarch
Reality is always the foe of famous names.

Reality is always the foe of famous names.

Francesco Petrarch
Wanting is not enough, long and you attain it.

Wanting is not enough, long and you attain it.

Francesco Petrarch
While life is in your body, you have the rein of all thoughts in your hands.

While life is in your body, you have the rein of all thoughts in your hands.

Francesco Petrarch
When the poet died his cat was put to death and mummified.

When the poet died his cat was put to death and mummified.

Francesco Petrarch
I rejoiced in my progress, mourned my weaknesses, and commiserated the universal instability of human conduct.

I rejoiced in my progress, mourned my weaknesses, and commiserated the universal instability of human conduct.

Francesco Petrarch
You keep to your own ways and leave mine to me.

You keep to your own ways and leave mine to me.

Francesco Petrarch
For death betimes is comfort, not dismay, and who can rightly die needs no delay.

For death betimes is comfort, not dismay, and who can rightly die needs no delay.

Francesco Petrarch
Hope is incredible to the slave of grief.

Hope is incredible to the slave of grief.

Francesco Petrarch
There is no lighter burden, nor more agreeable, than a pen.

There is no lighter burden, nor more agreeable, than a pen.

Francesco Petrarch
How quick the old woe follows a little bliss!

How quick the old woe follows a little bliss!

Francesco Petrarch
An equal doom clipp'd Time's blest wings of peace.

An equal doom clipp'd Time's blest wings of peace.

Francesco Petrarch
I saw the tracks of angels in the earth: the beauty of heaven walking by itself on the world.

I saw the tracks of angels in the earth: the beauty of heaven walking by itself on the world.

Francesco Petrarch
Mere elegance of language can produce at best but an empty renown.

Mere elegance of language can produce at best but an empty renown.

Francesco Petrarch
It is more honorable to be raised to a throne than to be born to one. Fortune bestows the one, merit obtains the other.

It is more honorable to be raised to a throne than to be born to one. Fortune bestows the one, merit obtains the other.

Francesco Petrarch
Alack our life, so beautiful to see, With how much ease life losest, in a day, What many years with pain and toil amassed!

Alack our life, so beautiful to see, With how much ease life losest, in a day, What many years with pain and toil amassed!

Francesco Petrarch
It may be only glory that we seek here, but I persuade myself that, as long as we remain here, that is right. Another glory awaits us in heaven and he who reaches there will not wish even to think of earthly fame.

It may be only glory that we seek here, but I persuade myself that, as long as we remain here, that is right. Another glory awaits us in heaven and he who reaches there will not wish even to think of earthly fame.

Francesco Petrarch
How difficult it is to save the bark of reputation from the rocks of ignorance.

How difficult it is to save the bark of reputation from the rocks of ignorance.

Francesco Petrarch
My flowery and green age was passing away, and I feeling a chill in
the fires had been wasting my heart, for I was drawing near the
hillside above the grave.

My flowery and green age was passing away, and I feeling a chill in the fires had been wasting my heart, for I was drawing near the hillside above the grave.

Francesco Petrarch
And I live on, but in grief and self-contempt,
Left here without the light I loved so much,
In a great tempest and with shrouds unkempt.

And I live on, but in grief and self-contempt, Left here without the light I loved so much, In a great tempest and with shrouds unkempt.

Francesco Petrarch
Life in itself is short enough, but the physicians with their art, know to their amusement, how to make it still shorter.

Life in itself is short enough, but the physicians with their art, know to their amusement, how to make it still shorter.

Francesco Petrarch
Go, grieving rimes of mine, to that hard stone
Whereunder lies my darling, lies my dear,
And cry to her to speak from heaven's sphere.

Go, grieving rimes of mine, to that hard stone Whereunder lies my darling, lies my dear, And cry to her to speak from heaven's sphere.

Francesco Petrarch
The greater I am, the greater shall be my efforts.

The greater I am, the greater shall be my efforts.

Francesco Petrarch