Roberto Grippi 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.
My son-in-law owns a successful fish restaurant in town. Finding the right staff has been challenging, but he recently ran a humorous ad on social media that quickly filled all positions. NOTE:The original ad was slightly different, and something would have been lost-in-translation, so I redacted it to suit non-Italian humour. STAFF WANTED FOR A … Read more
Successful leadership is about assembling a team that is stronger than any individual member. Great leaders do not try to do everything themselves. They build teams of talented people with diverse skills.
Money and happiness Wise v. Consumer 1. “People often claim ‘money cannot buy happiness’. Judging by my bookstore receipt, that is not entirely true.” 2. “The idea that ‘money cannot buy happiness’ is misleading. Take this receipt of comfort buys as proof — sometimes a bit of ‘shopping therapy’ can boost your mood.” Which of … Read more
“A mistake repeated more than once is a choice.” (Paulo Coelho)
Tell people there is an invisible being in the sky who created the universe, and most of them will believe you. Tell them the paint is not dry yet, and they will have to touch it to be sure. (George Carlin)