Carlo Collodi Quotes & Sayings

Would it be possible to find a more ungrateful boy, or one with less heart than I have! — Carlo Collodi

Hunger is the best cook. — Carlo Collodi

At such a loving invitation, Pinocchio, with one leap from the back of the orchestra, found himself in the front rows. With another leap, he was on the orchestra leader's head. With a third, he landed on the stage. — Carlo Collodi

A boy's appetite grows very fast, and in a few moments the queer, empty feeling had become hunger, and the hunger grew bigger and bigger, until soon he was as ravenous as a bear. — Carlo Collodi

If your heart is in your dream, no request is to extreme. — Carlo Collodi

Never trust people who promise to make you rich in a day. They are generally crazy swindlers — Carlo Collodi

Today at school I will learn to read at once; then tomorrow I will begin to write, and the day after tomorrow to cipher. Then with my acquirements I will earn a great deal of money, and with the first money I have in my pocket I will immediately buy for my papa a beautiful new cloth coat. But what am I saying? Cloth, indeed! It shall be all made of gold and silver, and it shall have diamond buttons. That poor man really deserves it; for to buy me books and to have me taught he has remained in his shirt sleeves ... And in this cold! It is only fathers who are capable of such sacrifices! ... — Carlo Collodi

Lies, my dear boy, are found out immediately, because they are of two sorts. There are lies that have short legs, and lies that have long noses. Your lie, as it happens, is one of those that have a long nose. — Carlo Collodi

How ridiculous I was as a Marionette! And how happy I am, now that I have become a real boy! — Carlo Collodi

Once upon a time there was a piece of wood. It was not an expensive piece of wood. Far from it. Just a common block of firewood, one of those thick, solid logs that are put on the fire in winter to make cold rooms cozy and warm. — Carlo Collodi

In the Land of Toys, every day, except Sunday, is a Saturday. Vacation begins on the first of January and ends on the last day of December. That is the place for me! All countries should be like it! How happy we should all be! — Carlo Collodi

Where are the gold pieces now?' the Fairy asked.
'I lost them,' answered Pinocchio, but he told a lie, for he had them in his pocket.
As he spoke, his nose, long though it was, became at least two inches longer. — Carlo Collodi

On hearing himself called Polendina for the third time, Geppetto lost his head with rage and threw himself upon the carpenter. Then and there they gave each other a sound thrashing.
After this fight, Mastro Antonio had two more scratches on his nose, and Geppetto had two buttons missing from his coat. Thus having settled their accounts, they shook hands and swore to be good friends for the rest of their lives. — Carlo Collodi

Don't trust to those who promise to make you rich in a day. Usually they are either mad or rogues! — Carlo Collodi

A conscience is that still small voice that people won't listen to. — Carlo Collodi

Woe to those who lead idle lives. Idleness is a dreadful illness and must be cured in childhood. If it is not cured then, it can never be cured. — Carlo Collodi

Most unfortunately, in the lives of puppets there is always a 'but' that spoils everything. — Carlo Collodi

Woe to the lazy man! Laziness is an evil disease which you must not let seize you in childhood, for when you grow up it cannot be cured. Chapter 25 — Carlo Collodi

As soon as he reached home, Geppetto took his tools and began to cut and shape the wood into a Marionette. — Carlo Collodi

Lies, my dear boy, can easily be recognized. There are two kind of them: those with short legs, and those with long noses. Your kind have long noses. — Carlo Collodi

Fancy the happiness of Pinocchio on finding himself free! Without saying yes or no, he fled from the city and set out on the road that was to take him back to the house of the lovely Fairy. — Carlo Collodi

If only sugar were medicine! I should take it every day. — Carlo Collodi

When poverty shows itself, even mischievous boys understand what it means. — Carlo Collodi

A thousand woodpeckers flew in through the window and settled themselves on Pinocchio's nose. — Carlo Collodi

What matters school? We can go to school to-morrow. Whether we have a lesson more or a lesson less, we shall always remain the same donkeys. — Carlo Collodi

How it happened that Mastro Cherry, carpenter, found a piece of wood that wept and laughed like a child. — Carlo Collodi

Are you not afraid of death?'
I am not in the least afraid! ... I would rather die than drink that bitter medicine.'
At that moment the door of the room flew open, and four rabbits as black as ink entered carrying on their shoulders a little bier.
What do you want with me?' cried Pinocchio, sitting up in bed in a great fright.
We are come to take you,' said the biggest rabbit.
To take me? ... But I am not yet dead! ... '
No, not yet: but you have only a few minutes to live, as you have refused the medicine that would have cured you of the fever.'
Oh, Fairy, Fairy!' the puppet then began to scream, 'give me the tumbler at once ... be quick, for pity's sake, for I will not die
no ... I will not die ... — Carlo Collodi

Pinocchio, spurred on by the hope of finding his father and of being in time to save him, swam all night long. — Carlo Collodi

After they had gone another mile, Pinocchio heard the same little low voice saying to him:
'Bear it in mind, simpleton! Boys who refuse to study, and turn their backs upon books, schools, and masters, to pass their time in play and amusements, sooner or later come to a bad end ... I know it by experience ... and I can tell you. A day will come when you will weep as I am weeping now ... but then it will be too late! ... '
On hearing these words whispered very softly, the puppet, more frightened than ever, sprang down from the back of his donkey and went and took hold of his mouth.
Imagine his surprise when he found that the donkey was crying ... and he was crying like a boy! — Carlo Collodi