Zibaldone

by Leopardi, Giacomo

  Antiquity, pleasurable. 1429,1. 2263,1.

  Angels. See Daemons.

  Anger, intolerance, to what extent modifiable with habit. 2491,1.

  Animals. Use all their strength, unlike man. 1378,1. Application of this observation to people who are mad, drunk, or desperate. How much physical strength man is deprived of by his spiritual progression; how many animals believed to possess superior physical strength to man do not in fact do so; etc. etc. 4079,1. 4272,2. Animals, different characters, according to the climate, like humans. 1798,1. Might be civilized one day. 4279,4. Love bright colors. 1798,2. Ability of animals to adapt to things that are not natural, etc. 1630,1. 1760,1. 1763,1. 1764,1. 1786,2. 1787,1.2. 1960,1. 2691,2. 3374,1. 3973,1.

  Animals generally speaking, Females, Southerners, generally happier than humans, males, northerners, because life is shorter, development more rapid, life more alive. 4062,5. 4092,1. Animal societies. 287,1. 591,1. 536,1. 540,1. 542,1. 1760,1. 1767,2.[?] 3773,1. 3919–20.

  Anniversaries. 60,1. 1438,1. 2255,1. 2322,1.

  Apologists (religious). 348,9.

  Apotheosis. See Daemons.

  Archaisms. Writing in an old-fashioned way. 1098,3. 1243,3. 1887,1. 2395,2. 2683,1. 2718,1. 3407. 3465. 3856–8. 3866,1.

  Ariosto. 727. 1449,1. 1789,1. 3415. 3976,1.

  Aristocracy, Oligarchy. 608,1. 709,1. 3471,1.

  Aristotle. Theophrastus. Their style. 2728–29.

  Armies (size of). 872,1.[902.]

  Arrian. 126,1. 468,1. 1024,2. 1495. 2181. 2408,1. 2591.

  Art. Mechanical arts and occupations, βαναυσοὶ, harmful to the health, how they were seen by the ancients, and how by the moderns. 2454,2. 2686,1. Absurdity of the arts and sciences invented to overcome men; such as fencing, tactics, etc. 4197,8. There is less art and politics in the conduct of men and more sincerity than people think. 4195–6.

  Art of being unhappy. 271,2. 306,1. 676,3. 1584,1.2. 2684,1. 4294,5.

  Art of composition, in the ancients and in the moderns. 2475,2. 4213,7. 4267,3. 4268,7. Sign that you have it, believing it to be difficult, and vice versa; and likewise of all the arts. 3673,1.

  Art of memory. 2378,1.

  Art and Nature. Their force and value in literature, gallantry, etc. etc., compared. 2568,1. Every other stylistic strength can be gotten from nature, clarity and naturalness from art alone. 3047,1. 3050,1. See Nature and Fortune.

  Artifice of Nature in the universe, whether it is really admirable. 4142,1. 4204,1. 4248,9. 4257,11.

  Asia. Populating or civilization of Europe coming from Asia. Ancient tradition in this regard. 4048,6.

  Aspettare, taken from guardare. 1106. 1388. 2779,1. 3054,1. 3558,2. 3722,1. 4154,3. Sperare meaning aspettare. 3571,2. 4123,9.

  Attention, attentiveness. See Habit.

  Augustus. 117,2. 2527. 3501.

  B

  Bandi. The story of la Bandi from Cesena, and others like it. Parallels in the ancients. 4218,3.

  Barbarism. 115,1. 118,1.2. 163,1. 205,1. 356. 403–4. 420,2. 471,1. 646,1. 669,1. 821,1. 823,1.2.3. 866,1. 868,1. 870,2. 926,2. 1077,1. 1100,2. 1170,1. 2334–5. 3797,1. 3882,1. 4172,8.

  Barbarism, extreme, of socialized savages; civilization makes humans more natural; primitive societies are the furthest from nature; as the style of a child or a beginner is the least natural. Cannibalism. 3797,1. 4047,1. 4135,5. 4185,1.

  Barbarism, supposes a beginning of civilization; savages are only barbarous because their civilization is inchoate. 4185,1.

  Barbarism in civilization. 4025.,1. 4047,1.

  Barbarism in languages. 819,1. 863,1. 952,1. 985,1. 1263,1. 4120,20.

  Barbarisms. 2500,2.

  Bards. See Ossian.

  Bartoli (Daniello). 1313,1. 2197,3. 2396,1. 2523,1. 3630,1.

  Beauty defined by Aristotle and by Theophrastus. 306,1.

  Beauty, pure beauty, not very attractive. 269,1. 270,2. 1530,1.

  Beauty, a sign of goodness. 1594,2.

  Beauty, women’s, always argued over. 1367,1.

  Bembo and Cesari. 4249,2.

  Bible. Poetry of the Bible. 13,1. 1028,4. 1211,3. 2615. 3543,2. 3567–8.

  Birds. Bird song. 159,1. 1722. Why it is pleasurable to see them. 1716,2.

  Birth of man. 68,3. 2607,1. 2672,1. 2673,2.

  Boccaccio. 1384,1. 1525,1. 1809. 1810. 2516–7. 2533. 2536,1. 2540. 2715,2. 2724. 2839. 3413–4. 3561. 3979,1.

  Books, beautiful and useful. 949,1. 1165,1. 1312,2.

  Books, philosophical. 347,1.

  Boredom. 72,2. 140,1. 174–76. 239,1. 262,2. 1690,1. 1815,1. 1988,3. 2219,3. 2243. 2433,1. 2599,1. 2601,1. 2736,1. 3622,1. 3876,1. 3879,1. 4043,2. 4266,1. 4267,1.

  Bossuet. 217,1. 218,1. 246,1. 374. 689. 2198. 2427–8.

  Brevity in occupations, pleasures, writings, etc., why pleasing. 1507,2.

  Brevity in language, writing, etc. 1822,1.

  Brothers, brotherly love, etc. 2862,1. 3915,1. 4226,4.

  Burchiello (his style), Nonsense poems, etc., also used by the Greeks. 4182,9.

  Burying the dead prescribed by Greek fables, proof of the usefulness and, at the same time, a sign of the purpose of ancient poetry and religion, of poets and priests. 3430,2. See Mythologies.

  Byron (Lord). 223,3. 225,1. 238,1. 261,1. 288,1. 975,2.[986.2.] 977,1. 986,2. 1847,1. 3156. 3477,4. 3483. 3821,2.

  C

  Caesar. 467,1. 2487,1. 3282.

  Cannibalism. See Barbarism.

  Caro (Annibale). 2525,1. 2534–5. 2840. 3063. 3415–6.

  Castes. Division into castes. 917 and following.

  Celsus, and his book de arte dicendi. 32,4. 34,1. 861–2. 949,1. 1010,1. 1313. 1597,1. 1938. 2729. 3062,3. 3626ff.

  Celtic (language, etc.). 994–5. 1010. 1014,2. 1015. 1024,1. 1163,3. 3366,1.

  Ceremonies. The Italians, who are mocked for their use of ceremony, are lacking one in particular of the equally ridiculous ceremonies used by the French. 4265,1.

  Cesari and Bembo. 4249,3.

  Chance. Discoveries, civilization, etc., due to chance. 830,1. 1086,1. 1570,1. 1611,1. 1737,2. 2602,2. 2606,1. 2620. 3661,1.

  Change in the mind of every man with age, corresponds to that of nations with the passage of centuries, and vice versa. 1313,1.[1315,1.].

  Changeability, typical of great minds. 1450,1.

  Chant, plain. 3020,1.

  Character, the moral character of people, as represented by others. 194,3.

  Character, Northern and Southern. 74,2. 176–7. 275–6. 349,1. 620,1. 931,1. 950,1. 986,2. 1026,1. 1041,1.[1043,1.] 1045,2. 1549. 1798,1.2. 1831,1. 1848,1. 2173,1. 2928,1. 3247,1. 3347,1. 3400,1. 3578,1. 3676,1. 3891,2. 3924. 3948. 4031,1.

  Character, variations of character in a single individual at different times and ages. 4064,1.

  Character of buffalo herders, and herders of horses, in the Roman countryside. 2691,2.

  Character of people, varies according to air, place, etc., as well as climate; and likewise intelligence. 3891,2. 4031,1.

  Character of young men, vigorous, etc., keener on war than on peace in society, keener to have enemies than friends, and yet good, etc. 3942,2.

  Characters that are extraordinary, without being extraordinarily great or small. 1623,4.

  Cheerfulness. 255,1. 1328,1. 1690,1. 2809, margin. 2905. 3310,1.

  Cheerfulness and sadness. Different behavior produced by these. 69,6.

  Chesterfield. Very well informed about Italian matters and the language. His judgments about the former, on Petrarch, etc. 4249,1.

  Chiabrera. 24,3. 26,1. 28,3.

  Childhood. Children’s imagination, etc. 211,3. 212,2. 481,1. 499,1. 514,1. 527,1. 528,1. 624,1. 636,2. 667,1. 668,1. 1464,1. 1554,2. 1555,1. 1628,2. 1653,1. 1688,1. 1735. 1987,1. 2430. 2432–3. 2645,2. 2684,1. 2965,1. 3291,1. 3770,1. 4226,4. 4229,4.

  Childhood, the happiest age in nature, is necessarily the most tormented and unhappy in the civilized state. 3078,1.

  Children. 644,1. 1062,2.[1063,1.] 1103,1. 1255,1. 1262,2. 1401,1. 1464,1. 1510,1. 1553,1. 171
8,1. 1725,2. 1740,1. 1770,3. 1799,1. 1904,2. 1914,1. 1930,2. 1951,1. 2043,1. 2390,1. 2596,1. 3921,1. 3345,1. 3553,1. 3908,1. 3950,4. 4038. 4272,2. 4280,1. Like being treated as grown-ups. 643,2. 3480,1. How they arrive at forming ideas of the beautiful and the ugly. 1183,2. 1379,1. 1510,1. 1539,1. 1718,1. 1750,1. 1794,2. 1914,1. 1930,2. 1945,1. 2965,1. Always inclined to the heroic. 3482, margin. Often know and discover great truths unknown to the philosophers. 2019,2. 2037,1. 2710–12.

  Children and Young people, generally inclined to destroy; mature and Old people to conserve. 4231,4. Children’s desires. 3446,1. Children’s distractedness. 2390,1. 4026,6.

  Chinese, their language, customs, music, literature, etc. etc. 942,1. 943,1.2. 944,1.2. 1019,1. 1055,2. 1059,1. 1179,1. 1570. 2620–1. 2750. 3211–5. 3666–71.

  Chivalric (ideas, spirit, tales). 1084,1. Gallantry toward women is not due to Chivalry nor to the peoples of the North. 4053,3. 4144,3.

  Chorus in plays. 2804,1.

  Christianity, has made customs worse. 80,3. 132,1. 898 ff. 2481,3. 2492,2. Teaches the nothingness of life and human things, unlike ancient religions. 105,1. 116,2. 131,2. 253,1. 254,1. 453,2. 1364,1. 4208,1. Has produced atheism. 1059,2. How established; its features, its effects, etc. etc. 334,3. 353,1. 420,2. 1426,1. 1460,1. 1469,1. 1685,1. 1824,2. 2232,1. 2252,1. 2381,1. 2456,1. 2574,1. 2739. 3148–52. 3494,1. 3497,1. 4103,6. 4238,4. 4290,1. Agrees in many respects with my system on Nature. 393,2. 436,1. 1004,1. 1626. 1619,1. 1627,1.2. 1637,1. 2114,1. 2178,1. 2263,2. 2666–7.[2576–7?]

  Cicadas, crickets, etc. (song of). 158,1. 159,1.

  Cicero. 743,1. 1932,2. 2014,1. 2150,1. 2240. 2410. 2475,2. 2663,2. 3440. 3475,1. 4067. 4088,5. 4281,3.

  Cicero’s Philippics. 459,1. 463,1.

  Circumlocutions. 638,1. 2721,2.

  Cities, first founded by whom, according to Scripture. 191,2. πόλις used for countries, terra for cities. Reason for these meanings. 4158,8.

  Cities, out of the way. 1831,2.

  Cities, small and large Cities. 2405,1. 2484,2. 3546,1.

  Civilization (process of). See Civilization.

  Civilization. Process of civilization. See separate slips, with the title Civilization. Process of civilization.

  Civilization, ancient, Greek and Latin, is not identical with modern, but something completely different. 4171,1. See Ancients.

  Civilization, European, could have been completely different from what it is and was, just as Chinese civilization is completely different, etc. 1570,1.

  Civilization, the extent to which it makes people different from and superior to savages. 2479,1.

  Civilization and improvement, does no more than multiply needs and sufferings, and then find remedies for them. 4180,4.

  Civilization travels from south to north. 1026,1. 2331,1. 4256,1. Half-civilization. 2331,1. Conjectures concerning a future civilization of animals. 4279,4.

  Clarity. See Naturalness and Clarity. Precision and Clarity.

  Clarity, the extraordinary and wonderful clarity and ease of Isocrates. 4250,3.

  Clarity of speech. 1372,1. Does not always, nor principally, come from having clear ideas. ibid.

  Classics. 307,1.

  Clean and unclean, relative. 1368,1. 1568,1. 3760,1.

  Comedy. 63,3. 2809, margin. 2905,1. 4234–35.

  Comedy, Greek. 3482,1.

  Comets, why feared. 3433,1.

  Comforts, bodily. 830,1.

  Comic writers, ancient and modern. 41,3. 58,5. 63,1. In order to be a good Comic or Satirical writer, you must be, or have been, deserving of Comedy and Satire. 4173,3.

  Communicating one’s own pleasures and displeasures to others (human inclination so to do). 230,1. 339,2. 486,1. 532,1. 592,1. 1535,1. 1583,2. 2471,1. 3804. 4014,1.

  Communicativeness. 1372,1.

  Compassion. 108,1. 164,1. 196,1. 211,1. 220,3. 221,1. 233,4. 281,1. 516,2. 722,1. 940,2. 1589,1. 1594,2. 1605,1. 1673,1. 1691,2. 2107,1. 2401,3. 2628,2. 2759,2. 3107,1. 3117,1. 3152,1. 3553,1. 3604,1. 3612–3. 3836,1. 4118,2. 4255,6. 4287,1.

  Compassion. Charity. Self-sacrifice. Interest on behalf of others, etc., typical of the young, the vigorous, the healthy, the fortunate, the cheerful, the brave, etc., even if quick-tempered, vengeful, etc. Insensitivity, Selfishness, etc., typical of the old, the ill, the weak, the unfortunate, the fearful, the sad, etc., even if gentle, etc. 3271,1. 3765,1. 3836,1. 4024,5. 4105,2. 4231,2. 4282,10. 4283,2. 4287,1.

  Compassion toward animals. 29,5. 3556.

  Compassion toward the dead. 4277,1.

  Compounds. Compound words. 735,1. 928,2. 943,1. 984,1. 1292,1. 2005,1. 2277,3. 2443,1. 2595,1. 2630,2. 2633,1. 2756. 2876,2. 3017,1. 3902,4. 4022,2. 4088,5.

  Conduct of individuals, contradictory and not logical. 135,1. Unreasoned most of the time, and miscalculated. Thinking you can judge other people’s intentions on the basis of utility is not a good position. 4058,1.

  Consolation. 271,2. 139,2. 302,1. 313,1. 324,4. 496,2. 512,1. 712,1. 65,1. 188,2. 503,1. 1364,1. 1400,1. 1651,1. 1970,2. 2150,2. 2419,2. 2607,1. 2599,1. 2661,1. 2674,2. 3529,1. 4243,8. 4277,1. Art of consoling oneself. 4201,10.

  Consolations of the ancients. 76,4. 1364,1. 2943,1. 4208,1.

  Constitutions. Constitutional monarchy. 575,1. 3889,1.

  Contempt of others, in people in general, in men of letters, etc., even if justified, is generally a symptom of limited worth. 3720,1.

  Continuations or Imitations of classical works. 101,1. 143,1. 2978, margin. 2976,1. 3461,1. 3941,3.

  Continuative verbs, Latin. See separate slips, with the title Continuatives, Latin. Latin continuative verbs not formed from supines. 2813,1. 3288,2. 3897,1. 3904,3. 3942,1. 4004,2. 4020,1. 4081,3. 4087,3. 4089,1. 4105,1. 4125,8. 4151,9. 4170,9. 4177,6. 4188,11. 4196,2. 4213,5. 4218,2. 4247,2. 4248,5. 4257,6. 4283,3. 4287,5.

  Contradictions, necessary and inevitable in the system of civilized life. 2337,2. 2454,2. 2686,1. 3773,1.

  Contradictions and monstrosities, horrible and clearly evident in the system of Nature and of existence. 4099,2. 4127,9. 4133,2. 4169,1. 4174,1. 4188,13. 4248,9. 4257,11. Contradictions in said system that are ridiculous. 4204,1.

  Contrast. Everything is animated by contrast, and languishes without it. Virtue too by contrast with vice. 2156,1.

  Conversation in the French style. Cannot be done in good Italian. 1946,1. 1985,1. 2136,1. 3862. In conversation, it is better to leave others unsatisfied with you, than satisfied. 2271,1. People who are good at conversation and those who are not. 3183,1. 3360,1. 4294,5. Conversation in Italy, in small towns, etc. 3546,1. Conversation in different climates. 4031,1.

  Copernicus (System of). 975,1.

  Corruption and decadence of humanity, brought about by knowledge, is recognized by the ancients. 398–9. 433,1. 450,1. 637,1. 723,1. 1004,1. 2114,1. 2250,2. 2401,2. 2939,1. 3646. 3666–7.

  Così, sic, οὕτως, etc., redundant. 3170,1. 4121,4. 4164,6. 4211,2. 4232,1.

  Courage. 43,6. 262,3. 364,2. 984,2. 1420,2. 1653,2. 1800,2. 2643,1. 2803,1. 3029,1.2. 3432,1. 3488,2. 3518,1. 3526,1. 3575,1.[3535,1.] 4010,3. 4229,4.

  Crusca Dictionary. 2397,2.

  Cunning. Malice. 2259,1. 3945,1.

  Curiosity. 651,1. 654,2.[657,1.]

  Customs, ancient corresponding to modern customs. Antiquity of customs, etc., believed to be modern. 4144,4. 4158,8. 4182,9. 4183,2. 4199,1. 4203,1. 4224, margin. 4125,1. 4206,1.3. 4218,3. 4219,1. 4255,2. 4280,3.

  Customs, etc., corresponding, in peoples that had no known relationship with one another. 3961,4.

  D

  Daemons, Angels, Human souls of divine origin, Demigods, Apotheosis, etc. 3544,2. 4048,3. 4050,2. 4076,3. 4094,2. 4110,3. 4117,1.

  Dante. 21,2. 152,2. 231,2. 700–2. 727. 762. 1028,4. 1228. 1317,1. 1366,1. 1403. 1525,1. 1688,2. 1809. 1993,2. 2041,1. 2126,1. 2396,1. 2504. 2505–6. 2517. 2523,1. 2536. 2573,1. 2791. 3011–4. 3291. 3479,1. 3507–8. 3552, margin. 3561,2. 3719, margin. 3884,1. 3964–5. 4214,3. His gift to Europe and to the human spirit in using the vernacular in literature. 3338,1. 4214,3. See Tasso and Dant
e.

  Death. Desire for death. 66,1. Believed by Diogenes to be something of which we are not aware. 660,1. Is not painful. 2182,1. Always believed to be far away, etc. 2638,1. Sorrow for the death of our dear ones and those we know, what the reason for it is. 4277,1.

  Defective (people) are for the most part only called by the name of their defect; and why. 2441,1.

  Delicacy of form. 1603,1. 1881. 1921,1. 1990,1. 3084,1. 3249–50. 3427,1. 3553,1.

  Della Casa (Giovanni). His lyric poetry. 3415–16.

  Demetrius, called the Phalerean, and his book on elocution. 4216,1.

  Demigods. 3494,1. See Daemons. Divinities, ancient.

  Desire. 1653,1. 2602,2. 3443,1. 3497,1. 4126,3. As long as he thinks man desires. 3842,2. 3846,2. 3876,1. 4126,3.

  Desire for life. 829,2.

  Desires satisfied. 210,1.

  Despair. 1545,1–1547,1. 107,1. 188,1. 1628,1. 1653,2. 1975,1, margin. 2107,1. 2159,1. 2217,1. 2876,1. 4079,1. 4090,5. 4272,2. Necessary in order to enjoy life. 2495,1. True despair is not found in nature. 4145,4. Calm and benevolent despair. 614,2. 618,1.2. 1653,2.

  Despotism. 902ff. 1077,1. 1100,2. 1534,2. 1563,1. 2608,3. 3082,1. 3438. 3471,1. 3517,1. 3860. 3889,1.

  Dialects. 932,1. 1629,1. 1965,1. 3011–4. 3041,1.

  Dialects, Greek. 961,1. 2060,1. 2122,1. 2126,1. 2180,2. 2811,2. 3011–4. 3041,1. 3921,1.[3931,1.] 3964,3. 4009,3. 4030,10. 4147,6.

  Dialects, Italian. 1020,1. 1299. 2063,1. 2122,1. 3011–4. 3637,1. See Tuscan (Vernacular).

  Dialects, Latin. 1020,1. 1476,1. 2120,1. 2201. 2649,1. 2654,1. 3372,2.

  Difference, considerable, also physical, between human beings. 868,1. 1568,2. 2479,2. 2558,1. 3466,1. 3806,1. Difference of a person, especially if sensitive, from himself, at different ages and in different times. 4064,1.

  Difficulty, moderate, in writings, is pleasurable. 2358,2.

  Diminutives used as positives. See separate slips, with the title Positivized diminutives.

  Diphthongs, Greek and Latin: 1159,1. 1968,2. 2247,2. 2239,1.[2249.] 2889,3. 3684,6. 3735,1. 4103,3. 4285,1. See Synizeses. Running together of vowels, etc.

  Dispositions, natural. See Habituation.

  Divinities, ancient. The ancients did not abase divinity, they raised up humanity; because they valued human things much more than Christianity does; etc. 3494,1. 4048,3. 4050,2. 4076,3. 4094,2. 4110,3. 4117,1. See Daemons. Demigods.