Paolo Cognetti Quotes

“If the point at which you immerse yourself in the river is the present, I thought, then the past is the water that has flowed past you, that which has gone downstream and where there is nothing left for you; whereas the future is the water that comes down from above, bringing dangers and surprises. The past is in the valley, the future is in the mountains.”
― Paolo Cognetti, Le otto montagne

“As they say: sometimes you have to take a step backwards in order to move forwards. That is, if you have the humility to admit it to yourself.”
― Paolo Cognetti, Le otto montagne

“You find your place in the world much less predictably than you'd imagine.”
― Paolo Cognetti, Le otto montagne

“Waarom interesseerde die geschiedenis me zo? Omdat ik mezelf steeds iets heel simpels moest voorhouden: dat het uit bomen, velden en beken bestaande landschap om me heen, dat er zo authentiek en ongerept uitzag, in werkelijkheid het product was van vele eeuwen mensenwerk; het was net zo'n kunstmatig landschap als een stad dat is.”
― Paolo Cognetti, Il ragazzo selvatico

“La Grigna era una guerriera bellissima e crudele, faceva uccidere a colpi di frecce i cavalieri che salivano a dichiarale amore, così Dio l'aveva punita trasformandola in montagna.”
― Paolo Cognetti, Le otto montagne

“Guarda quel torrente, lo vedi? - disse. - Facciamo finta che l'acqua sia il tempo che scorre. Se qui dove siamo noi è il presente, da quale parte pensi che sia il futuro?”
― Paolo Cognetti, Le otto montagne

“Sometimes, love exhausts itself gradually, and sometimes it comes to an end suddenly.”
― Paolo Cognetti, Le otto montagne