Roberto Benigni Quotes

If we’re going to solve the problems of the world, we have to learn how to talk to one another. Poetry is the language at its essence. It’s the bones and the skeleton of the language. It teaches you, if nothing else, how to choose your words.

The short story seems like the best of all possible worlds. I do feel it is closer to writing poetry than to writing a novel, with its requirements of concentration and economy.

It is wise to apply the oil of refined politeness to the mechanism of friendship.

The poets are the standard bearers of language. Their work lives or dies word by word. When I write and can hear a clunky sentence, I try to write up to the poetry that I have recited beforehand.

I always try to be nice. I never want to be that person that anyone perceives as being rude or disrespectful, 'cause that's not me at all.

When it comes to poetry, I think partly the numbers of people attempting to write poems is probably a result or the reaction to technology.

It used to be that phrases and lines would come into my head, often many of them in a period of five days or a week, and maybe I didn't know what I was talking about, but the words had a kind of heaviness or deliciousness to them.

You gotta be nice. The way I look at it, why not be a nice guy to people?

In a poem the words should be as pleasing to the ear as the meaning is to the mind.

It has always seemed to me the real art in this business is not so much moving information or guidance or policy five or 10,000 miles. That is an electronic problem. The real art is to move it the last three feet in face to face conversation.

I really came to literature through poetry.

It is difficult to tell how much men's minds are conciliated by a kind manner and gentle speech.

Through my former experiences, writing poetry and learning other languages leading up to English I find ways to stitch words together that may seem a bit odd, but somehow, sometimes they do work.

Poets... are literal-minded men who will squeeze a word till it hurts.

Words too familiar, or too remote, defeat the purpose of a poet.

Soft and faire goes farre.

A way of using words to say things which could not possibly be said in any other way, things which in a sense do not exist till they are born … in poetry.

Poetry is the most concentrated form of literature; it is the most emotionalized and powerful way in which thought can be presented.

I have heard women complain about men holding doors for them,, as if it is inherently offensive and implies that they are weak. ... I would hold a door for anyone. ... It has to do with noticing our fellow human beings and saying, "I recognize that you're on this planet, and I don't want a door hitting you in the face.

poetry is where the language is renewed.

Never do anything that is unpleasant to others.

Poetry has become the higher algebra of metaphors.

Politeness and consideration for others is like investing pennies and getting dollars back.

I believe in courtesy, the ritual by which we avoid hurting other people's feelings by satisfying our own egos.

Being nice should never be perceived as being weak. It's not a sign of weakness, it's a sign of courtesy, manners, grace, a woman's ability to make everyone...feel at home, and it should never be construed as weakness.