Alberto Moravia Quotes, born Alberto Pincherle on November 28, 1907, in Rome, Italy, was an Italian novelist, journalist, and screenwriter whose works dissected the malaise of modern life. Renowned for novels like Gli Indifferenti (1929), Il Conformista (1951), and Il Disprezzo (1954), he explored existentialism, social alienation, and modern sexuality, often clashing with Fascist censorship and the Catholic Church’s Index. His precise, atheistic style earned him critical acclaim, including the Strega Prize for I Racconti (1952), and his works inspired films like Bertolucci’s The Conformist (1970) and Godard’s Contempt (1963). These 15 quotes—sourced from his novels, essays, and interviews—reflect his incisive views on love, society, writing, and the human struggle, capturing his enduring legacy as a literary provocateur.
15 Alberto Moravia Quotes
- “Good writers are monotonous, like good composers. They keep trying to perfect the one problem they were born to understand.” (The Woman of Rome, Steerforth Press, 1999)
- “And we all know love is a glass which makes even a monster appear fascinating.” (The Woman of Rome, Steerforth Press, 1999)
- “You can’t think on purpose about somebody or something. Either you think about them naturally or you don’t think at all.” (Boredom, New York Review of Books, 2011, p. 5)
- “When you aren’t sincere you need to pretend, and by pretending you end up believing yourself; that’s the basic principle of every faith.” (The Time of Indifference, Steerforth Press, 2000, p. 207)
- “This thought strengthened in me my belief that all men, without exception, deserve to be pitied, if only because they are alive.” (The Woman of Rome, Steerforth Press, 1999, p. 202)
- “Every true writer is like a bird; he repeats the same song, the same theme, all his life. For me, this theme has always been revolt.” (Contempt, New York Review of Books, 2011)
- “In life there are no problems, that is, objective and external choices; there is only the life which we do not resolve as a problem but which we live as an experience.” (Contempt, New York Review of Books, 2011, p. 4)
- “It is what we are forced to do that forms our character, not what we do of our own free will.” (Contempt, New York Review of Books, 2011, p. 75)
- “Our ideals, laws and customs should be based on the proposition that each generation in turn becomes the custodian rather than the absolute owner of our resources.” (Contempt, New York Review of Books, 2011, p. 4)
- “An uncertain evil causes anxiety because, at the bottom of one’s heart, one goes on hoping till the last moment that it may not be true; a certain evil, on the other hand, instills a kind of dreary tranquillity.” (Contempt, New York Review of Books, 2011, p. 170)
- “When I sit at my table to write, I never know what it’s going to be until I’m under way. I trust in inspiration, which sometimes comes and sometimes doesn’t.” (Contempt, New York Review of Books, 2011, p. 4)
- “The less one notices happiness, the greater it is.” (Contempt, New York Review of Books, 2011, p. 4)
- “My boredom might be described as a malady affecting external objects and consisting of a withering process; an almost instantaneous loss of vitality.” (Boredom, New York Review of Books, 2011, p. 5)
- “Dictatorships are one-way streets. Democracy boasts two-way traffic.” (Interview, Observer, London, October 14, 1979)
- “A writer survives in spite of his beliefs.” (Interview, PBS, POV: On Cartooning, n.d.)
Alberto Moravia’s quotes pierce the veil of human pretense, exposing love, society, and existence with unflinching clarity, urging us to confront life’s complexities with courage and awareness. Which one challenges you to rethink your own reality? Share it in the comments and keep Moravia’s provocative legacy alive!
Emma Thompson
Hi, I'm Emma Thompson, founder of MyLittleDesire. I share relationship advice, love quotes, and thoughtful gift ideas to help you express your feelings and strengthen your bonds. Let's celebrate love together!
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