Have you ever considered the meaning of “Abracadabra”? You likely encountered this word as a child. Though it is widely known, few are aware of its Aramaic roots, “Avrah KaDabra,” which translates to “I create what I speak.” This phrase reflects the powerful idea that words can shape reality. Thought and language are deeply intertwined, … Read more
“May you live in interesting times…” According to popular belief, this phrase is an ancient Chinese curse that ironically suggests periods of difficulty, chaos, and uncertainty. It continues with:“… may you come to the attention of those in authority…”and concludes with:“… may the gods grant you everything you wish for.” Although widely used in English … Read more
“Illusion is the most stubborn weed of the collective consciousness: history teaches, but it has no pupils.” (Antonio Gramsci, a great Italian thinker and intellectual of the 20th century)
May I remind this poem for a pen-friend: Remember Me Remember me:To the living, I am gone. To the sorrowful, I will never return.To the angry, I was cheated,But to the happy, I am at peace,And to the faithful, I have never left. I cannot be seen, but I can be heard.So as you stand … Read more
How many times have we held back from new opportunities out of fear?Fear of the unknown, failure or the judgement of others can be paralysing. Yet, behind every great success there is always someone who dared to overcome fear and started. Do you know why? It is often all in our minds and things could … Read more
The cyclical nature of the seasons, a forewarning of life’s twilight; the unstoppable passage of time and life’s seasons, with their fading memories, serving as a symbol of fate: Autumn. Autumn Autumn. We felt its comingin the wind of August,in the rains of Septembertorrential and weepingand a shiver ran through the earthwhich now, bare and … Read more
“Hindsight is an exact science.” (One of Murphy’s Laws)
Do not hesitate to correct a mistake as soon as you realize you have made one. If a mistake is corrected promptly, it causes no harm. However, if you try to hide it, it will become even more shameful, and you will suffer more as a result. If you have said something you should not … Read more
Sometimes we see our destiny approaching at a crossroads, but we cannot avoid choosing the path that will make us heroes, no matter the cost. Next up is a joke, but after that, I will tell you a true story that happened to me in my fourth year of secondary school! JOKE On the first … Read more
“A samurai who waits to find himself in difficult situations in order to learn how to get out of them is not enlightened. A samurai who studies the situation in advance and foresees every eventuality and the possible solutions is wise, and when the occasion arises, he is capable of facing it in the best … Read more
Many of you appreciated the short verse by Quasimodo, so today may I write about another poet from the same period, representing Italian Hermetism. Morning I’m illuminedwith immensity. Giuseppe Ungaretti (1917) These few words are known by every Italian student, as the entire poem is made up of just these words. How long does it … Read more
An empty stomach, an empty wallet, and a broken heart can teach you some of the best lessons in life.” (Robin Williams)
“Everyone stands alone at the heart of the earth,pierced by a ray of sun: and suddenly it’s evening.” These lines were written by the Sicilian poet Salvatore Quasimodo, born in Modica (Ragusa) in 1901. A Nobel Prize winner for Literature (1959), he was a leading figure of Hermeticism, the poetic movement that emerged in Italy … Read more
“Ognuno sta solo sul cuor della terra,trafitto da un raggio di sole:ed è subito sera.” Questi versi furono scritti dal poeta siciliano Salvatore Quasimodo, nato a Modica (Ragusa) nel 1901. Premio Nobel per la Letteratura nel 1959, Quasimodo fu una delle figure centrali dell’Ermetismo, il movimento poetico sviluppatosi in Italia tra le due guerre mondiali. … Read more
The English term ‘manager’ comes from the French verb ‘manager’, which itself is derived from the Latin phrase ‘manu agere’, meaning ‘to lead with the hand’.Picture a manager as someone who ‘leads by the hand’, guiding their company much like a parent leads a child. Indeed, managing a company demands a special kind of sensitivity, … Read more
“The donkey may dress like a horse, but sooner or later it brays.” (Ancient Sicilian proverb)
“You did the job the right way and there were chances that people would reward you for that, but the true satisfaction came from playing the game properly.” (James Bond in Ian Fleming’s Casino Royale [the book, not the film]) Bond reflects on the concept of doing things the right way and finding satisfaction in … Read more
Antonio Gramsci was an intellectual persecuted by Fascism in Italy in the 1930s. He died as a prisoner in 1937 in a clinic in Rome. He is considered one of the most important Italian thinkers of the 20th century. His most morally important work is the ‘Notebooks from Prison’, which he wrote while imprisoned and … Read more
“Simply observing others can often make us feel proud of ourselves.” First interpretation:“It’s reassuring to realize that, despite everything, we haven’t hit rock bottom while others seem to be falling faster than we are.” Second interpretation: “Seeing others can motivate us to strive for our best.” Which one interpretation you like best?
There is a time for thought and a time for action, do not mix them up. By the time you are ready to act, your thinking should already be finished. Once the action starts, there will not be any room left for thinking.