I love you, and because I love you, I would sooner have you hate me for telling you the truth than adore me for telling you lies.

- Pietro Aretino

Why should I be ashamed to describe what nature was not ashamed to create?

- Pietro Aretino

A man who permits his honor to be taken, permits his life to be taken.

- Pietro Aretino

The art of war is like the art of the courtesan; indeed they might be called sisters, since both are slaves of desperation.

- Pietro Aretino

Angry men are blind and foolish, for reason at such time takes flight and, in her absence; wrath plunders all the riches of the intellect, while the …

- Pietro Aretino

I keep my friends as misers do their treasure, because, of all the things granted us by wisdom, none is greater or better than friendship.

- Pietro Aretino

I am, indeed, a king, because I know how to rule myself.

- Pietro Aretino

Even when I'm railed at, I get my quota of renown.

- Pietro Aretino

A high heart ought to bear calamities and not flee them, since in bearing them appears the grandeur of the mind and in fleeing them the cowardice of …

- Pietro Aretino