Top 74 Quotes by Italo Calvino

About Italo Calvino

These are some quotes by Italian author Italo Calvino Journalist, who lived between October 15, 1923 and September 19, 1985.

I'm terrified of writing at night, for then I can't sleep. So I start slowly, slowly writing in the morning and go on into the late afternoon.

I'm terrified of writing at night, for then I can't sleep. So I start slowly, slowly writing in the morning and go on into the late afternoon.

Italo Calvino

A classic is a book which with each rereading offers as much of a sense of discovery as the first reading.

A classic is a book which with each rereading offers as much of a sense of discovery as the first reading.

Italo Calvino

Although I am small, ugly and dirty, I am highly ambitious, and at the slightest flattery, I immediately start to strut like a turkey.

Although I am small, ugly and dirty, I am highly ambitious, and at the slightest flattery, I immediately start to strut like a turkey.

Italo Calvino

I change my method and field of reference from book to book because I can never believe in the same thing two times running.

I change my method and field of reference from book to book because I can never believe in the same thing two times running.

Italo Calvino

I have spent more time with other people's books than with my own. I do not regret it.

I have spent more time with other people's books than with my own. I do not regret it.

Italo Calvino

Folktales are real.

Folktales are real.

Italo Calvino

My stories are full of facts; they have a beginning and an end. For that reason, they will never... occupy a place in contemporary literature.

My stories are full of facts; they have a beginning and an end. For that reason, they will never... occupy a place in contemporary literature.

Italo Calvino

Reading is a possession, a march toward a possession.

Reading is a possession, a march toward a possession.

Italo Calvino

I'm only a novelist on occasion. Many of my books are made up of brief texts collected together, short stories, or else they are books that have an overall structure but are composed of various texts.

I'm only a novelist on occasion. Many of my books are made up of brief texts collected together, short stories, or else they are books that have an overall structure but are composed of various texts.

Italo Calvino

Now you mustn't think that I don't have any ideas for novels in my head. I've got ideas for ten novels in my head. But with every idea I have, I already foresee the wrong novels I would write, because I also have critical ideas in my head; I've got a full theory of the perfect novel, and that's what stumps me.

Italo Calvino

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