Roberto Grippi Most leaders, whether political or corporate, are “turtles on a post”. When, along a country road, you see a turtle balanced on top of a fence post, one thing is immediately clear: it did not get there by itself. Someone put it there. And it is equally evident that this is not its dimension.It is … Read more
“Throw me to the wolves, and I will return leading the pack.” (This line is widely misattributed to Seneca.Its origin is modern, but its message on resilience and leadership remains sound.) “Thrown to the wolves” is the moment when status collapses and reality speaks.Titles vanish. Favour fades.What remains is character, skill, and the ability to … Read more
At first glance, it seems like a paradox. In reality, it is a statement of method.Becoming an adult is inevitable.Becoming young, however, is a choice. Biological youth is a phase.Mental youth is a discipline. Over time, we accumulate experience, structure, responsibility.All of this is necessary and useful. But it carries a silent risk, rigidity: And … Read more
When people tell you that in adulthood problems come one after another, do not believe them … they all arrive at once. And they show up without formal notice: fiscal, operational, family, health, relational.Each with “non-deferrable” urgency.Each convinced it has absolute strategic priority. The real surprise of adulthood is not complexity. It is simultaneity. When … Read more
“Horror vacui“, Latin for “fear of empty space”, began as an aesthetic category.But, as often happens, it did not remain confined within frames for long. At first it is art. Then it becomes behaviour.Originally, it describes an almost compulsive urge to fill every available space: no margins, no pauses, no visual silence. From Baroque art … Read more
“Conversational implicature” is one of those invisible mechanisms that hold human communication together.It is not what we say, but what we allow the other person to understand without saying it. Consider the dialogue: “A. Where is Charles?”“B. There is a yellow Volkswagen outside Anne’s house.” It does not work on a logical level, yet it … Read more
In Italian, the phrase “O sei ricco o sei rocco” works because of the assonance between “ricco” and “rocco”. The two words differ by a single vowel, yet they evoke entirely different forms of power. The sound similarity makes the contrast sharper, almost playful, while the meaning underneath is anything but light. “Rich” (ricco) is … Read more
What is perceived as chaos on a desk is often not disorder. It is a system. Not a linear system. Not an aesthetic system. But a functional one. To the outside observer, that surface cluttered with open books, overlapping notes, hastily written post-its, and objects apparently out of place seems to deny the very idea of … Read more
This is a sentence that, when delivered in a firm tone, appears to draw a clear boundary: I have done my part; the rest does not concern me. Yet in human relationships — personal, professional, institutional — this statement functions like an uncovered cheque. Every word spoken enters a complex ecosystem: shared history, expectations, fears, … Read more
“Hurry up and wait” is one of those expressions that compresses an entire institutional culture into four words. It was widely used in the Royal Navy and later in the United States Navy to describe a familiar rhythm of military life: urgent mobilisation followed by long, immobile anticipation. Orders arrive. Everything must be done immediately. … Read more
In recent times, across social networks and chats, a curious pseudo-Latin abbreviation has appeared: “etm”, used in contexts where one would normally find “etc.”. According to some, it stands for “et merda”, that is, “and shit”, placed at the end of a list to give the same flavour as the more straightforward English “and shit”, … Read more
“Diffuse potamophagy” is an ironic, pseudo-scientific term used to render into Italian the Sicilian noun “manciaciumi”, commonly known, outside Sicilian linguistic circles, as “itching”. What we have here is a fine example of macaronic Latinism, or more precisely, of jocular pseudo-scientific language typical of Sicilian linguistic culture: a culture in which erudition is not intended … Read more
(References to real, existing people are, as always, entirely intentional.) Women possess a remarkable social talent: they know how to remain silent about what truly matters and, at the same time, comment with flair on what does not matter at all.This is not inconsistency. It is information economy. When the stakes are serious — affections, … Read more
“You must have the courage to do what is right, whatever the risk.It is the only way to live with yourself.” (Attribution uncertain; sometimes attributed to Capt. Lawrence Chambers) This quote, in its simplicity, recalls an ancient principle: moral courage is required to do what is right, even when it involves risks, pressure, or unpleasant … Read more
• Brits call it “the Beast from the East”• Germans call it “der Sibirische Bär” (the Siberian Bear)• Americans call it “Snowmageddon”• Canadians call it “Monday” (because it is nothing special)• Nordics call it “Thursday” (and ask if you are alright)• Russians call it “весна” (vesna: spring)• Poles call it “zima” (winter)• Spaniards call it … Read more
A fool only learns from his own mistakes.The wise man learns from the mistakes of others.(Otto von Bismarck)Otto, Prince of Bismarck, Count of Bismarck-Schönhausen, Duke of Lauenburg (born Otto Eduard Leopold von Bismarck; 1815–1898) was a Prussian statesman and diplomat who oversaw the unification of Germany. Bismarck’s Realpolitik and firm governance resulted in him being … Read more
The French expression “Après moi, le déluge” survives because it captures a familiar human reflex with ruthless clarity. The literal translation is simple: “After me, the deluge.” Older English sometimes makes the attitude explicit:“When I am dead, the deluge can come for all I care.” In modern terms:“I will take what I want now. Whatever … Read more
The sheer assertiveness of the little FIAT Panda, sitting at 130 km/h (about 80 mph) and refusing to move aside despite my repeated flashes, was not stubbornness. It was doctrine. My utmost respect goes to the fearless driver (indeed: the test pilot) pushing the Panda beyond every reasonable fear, because only those who have done … Read more
Research in psycholinguistics and social psychology shows that the use of different languages can be associated with consistent variations in behaviour, emotional expression, and modes of self presentation among bilingual and multilingual individuals. Numerous empirical studies indicate that each language tends to activate specific cultural frameworks, together with social norms, communicative conventions, and patterns of … Read more
Christmas is coming! How moving:today I saw someone give a mobile phone, a watch, and a wallet to a person whose only possession was a knife. The spirit of giving is alive!You can already feel the Christmas atmosphere!