Torquato Tasso Quotes

47 Sourced Quotes

Grave was the man in years, in looks, in word, his locks were grey, yet was his courage green.

Torquato Tasso
A garrulous, deceitful thing is woman;
She will, she will not: fool who trusts in her.

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Helpful misfortune, wrath most pitiful
With mildest scourge doth from on high chastise
Thy foolish error, and doth make thyself
Of thy salvation minister.

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Great were his exploits both with brain and hand.

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For truth that is in flowing verse concealed Allures the most obdurate, and persuades.

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The gift of nature, love or kindly skies,
Her negligence is nought but artifice.

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Worse ill it is, perchance, to wait for ill,
Than that ill seems when it upon us falls.

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Ah cruel Love! that men alike dost slay
Dispensing now thy honey, now thy gall.
In all thou giv'st we equal danger see,
Be it thy medicine or thy malady.

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Small is the gulf that lies 'twixt sleep and death.

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E'en little fault the heart did shrewdly wound.

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Fame which inveigles with its dulcet sound
Ye mortals proud, and seems to ye so fair,
An echo is, the shadow of a dream,
That at a breath dissolves and vanishes.

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Never from a man of sense love takes advice.

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Lay down thine arms,
And let it for thy fame sufficient be
That thou canst boast of having fought with me.

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Oh marvel! Love, though born but yesterday,
Spreads wide his wings and triumphs in the fray.

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Death is the lot of cities and of States;
Pomp, luxury, 'neath sand and grass do lie,
Yet man, it seems, is wroth that he must die.

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Happy indeed such torture and such death,
Yea more than gain of provinces and gold.

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You, Honor, first you hid
The fount of love's delight,
Denying drafts to slake the lover's thirst.

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Horror itself in that fair scene looks gay,
And joy springs up e'en in the midst of fear.
In Italian: Bello in si bella vista anco e l'orrore, E di mezzo la tema esce il diletto.

Torquato Tasso
O subtle love! a thousand wiles thou hast, by humble suit, by service, or by hire, to win a maiden's hold,--a thing soon done, for nature framed all women to be won.

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For when last need to desperation driveth,
Who dareth most he wiseth counsel giveth.
In Italian: Che spesso avvien che ne' maggior perigli / Son piu audaci gli ottimi consigli.

Torquato Tasso
They make their fortune who are stout and wise,
Wit rules the heavens, discretion guides the skies.
In Italian: Che sovente addivien che'l saggio e'l forte. Fabro a se stesso e di beata sorte

Torquato Tasso
Women have tongues of craft, and hearts of guile,
They will, they will not; fools that on them trust;
For in their speech is death, hell in their smile.
In Italian: Femmina e cosa garrula e fallace: Vuole e disvuole, e folle uom chi sen fida, Si tra se volge.

Torquato Tasso
A fool is he that comes to preach or prate,
When men with swords their right and wrong debate.
In Italian: Chi conta i colpi e la dovuta offesa, Mentr' arde la tenzon, misura e pesa?

Torquato Tasso
Not for no cold did freeze,
Nor any cloud beguile
Th'eternal flowering spring

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Perhaps if only once you did enjoy
The thousandth part of all the happiness
A heart beloved enjoys, returning love,
Repentant, you would surely sighing say,
"All time is truly lost and gone
Which is not spent in serving love."

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When man by direst peril is oppressed,
Ofttimes the boldest counsels are the best.

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Prepared to meet his fate, whate'er arise,
Let him on victory count, and death despise.

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Pluck we the rose of love: with love we'll burn,
When loving we may loved be in return.

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Loved much, hoped little, and desired nought.

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Art, that does all things, never herself displays.

Torquato Tasso