Roberto Grippi Long ago, in medieval Italy, the great trading cities of Venice and Florence bustled with life. In the heart of their marketplaces, bankers — or money changers — set up their businesses not in grand buildings, but on simple benches. These benches, called banchi (pronounced “banki”), gave rise to the word “banker” as we know … Read more
In everyday language, we frequently use words without giving much thought to their origins. In many cases, understanding a word’s etymology may seem unimportant. However, there are instances where uncovering the roots of a word can offer deeper insight and a richer appreciation of its meaning. Consider the familiar time units “minute” and “second.” These … Read more
When Does Price Matter?Exploring the Role of Value in B2B and B2C Relationships Yesterday, I participated in a key business meeting centered around opportunities for entering new markets. Amidst the many insightful discussions, one comment during a conversation on service pricing resonated strongly with me:“Price becomes an issue when quality is lacking.” This simple yet … Read more
“Where ignorance is bliss,’tis folly to be wise.” Thomas Gray’s well-known 1742 line from “Ode on a distant prospect of Eton College” can be rephrased in modern terms as“That which I do not know cannot harm me.” This idea has appeared in different variations throughout history, serving as a justification for turning a blind eye … Read more
“If a man insisted always on being serious, and never allowed himself a bit of fun and relaxation, he would go mad or become unstable without knowing it.”(Herodotus) What could possibly go wrong when you strip joy, laughter, and leisure from the human condition? Picture, if you will, the modern martyr to seriousness: hunched over … Read more
I showed up at an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, expecting to blend into the background. So much for “anonymous”—I recognized every single face in the room!It felt less like a support group and more like a surprise party thrown by all my bad decisions.They knew me so well, I would not have been shocked if someone … Read more
“Cu parró, m’arricrió” – literally, “Who spoke, enjoyed me” – is a sharp Sicilian phrase used to mock someone who has just blurted out something spectacularly off-topic, absurd, or dim-witted. It is the regional equivalent of giving someone a round of applause for making a complete fool of themselves. These four short Sicilian words are … Read more
I am swift as a gazelle. an old one. with arthritis. run over by a Land Rover. 8 days ago. In short: peak athleticism.
“The old world is dying.The new one struggles to be born.And in this in-between, monsters arise.” (Antonio Gramsci) This striking quote captures the chaos of transitional eras—times when the foundations of the past have crumbled, yet the future remains uncertain and undefined. In this liminal space, where old certainties no longer hold and new structures … Read more
According to Socrates, only a woman who has given birth without anaesthetic can understand the suffering of a man with a cold. Indeed, the common cold—a disease so ferocious it causes mild congestion and the occasional sneeze—has laid waste to countless men’s plans to take out the trash or go to work. Childbirth, by contrast, … Read more
“The cuckold is only notorious in his own village, but the fool is recognised everywhere he goes.”(Ancient Sicilian proverb) The cuckold’s misfortune, though humiliating, is at least contained—tucked neatly within the boundaries of his modest village, known only to neighbours, the local butcher, and perhaps the postman who delivers the alimony letters.His shame is provincial, … Read more
“Cu avi, considera”(Sicilian proverb) It can be translated as“Those who have, reflect with care,”or“He who possesses, acts with thought.” This Sicilian proverb conveys the idea that individuals who possess something of value—be it wealth, wisdom, experience, or responsibility—tend to make decisions with greater caution and awareness. To “consider” is to weigh the consequences, to act … Read more
“Books in a home are the ultimate symbol of richness.” Unlike material possessions that may lose value over time, books symbolize intellectual richness, curiosity, and a deep appreciation for knowledge. They reflect a person’s desire to grow, to understand the world, and to connect with the thoughts and experiences of others across time and cultures. … Read more
“Even a fool learns something once it hits him.”(Homer, the Odyssey) The fool’s preferred learning method: blunt force.No need for wisdom, reflection, or reasoned thought—just wait until life slaps him hard enough, and suddenly, enlightenment dawns.Not through understanding, of course, but through sheer impact. And let us not get carried away—he learns something, not necessarily … Read more
“Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake.”(Napoleon Buonaparte) The golden rule of effortless victory!Why waste energy battling your opponent when he is so generously sabotaging himself? Sit back, sip your wine, and let him dig his own grave—probably while congratulating himself on the cleverness of his shovel technique. After all, what could … Read more
“True terror is to wake up one morning and discover that your high school class is running the Country.”(Kurt Vonnegut, circa 1990) I took the liberty of updating Vonnegut’s quote with a few more contemporary variations:
“What the barbarians did not do, the Barberini did.” This Latin epigram—“Quod non fecerunt barbari, fecerunt Barberini”—has, over time, become proverbial. Nowadays it is invoked to criticize those who, under the guise of progress or authority, violate their own cultural legacy. The phrase was originally a pointed rebuke of the Barberini family, particularly Pope Urban … Read more
“I was told horse manure would do wonders for my strawberries. I tried it, but honestly, I still prefer them with a sprinkle of sugar — less earthy, more edible.” Moral of the story: always read between the lines. Especially when the advice smells a bit off.
The Arrow and the Song(Henry Wadsworth Longfellow) I shot an arrow into the air,It fell to earth, I knew not where;For, so swiftly it flew, the sightCould not follow it in its flight. I breathed a song into the air,It fell to earth, I knew not where;For who has sight so keen and strong,That it … Read more
When people think of Greece and its music, the most common image is that of men dancing in a circle to the lively and stirring rhythm of syrtaki. However, syrtaki is not a traditional folk dance with ancient roots. It was choreographed by Giorgos Provias specifically for the 1964 film Zorba the Greek, set to … Read more