Quotes

Other

In our town, the puffballs and spring arrive hand in hand. These are the sort of puffballs that drift around, soaring over the cemetery, where all rest in peace, soaring over the beachfront and over the Germans, newly arrived, who don't feel the cold. Drifting, drifting... swirling... swirling... swirling... Drifting, drifting, drifting!

Other

You think my fanny's a good-luck charm?

Other

Are you Polish? Only Polish women have that fire in their eyes.

Other

I always find German women to be pushovers. She's really fallen for me. And to prove it, she even offered me posterior intimacy.

Dialogue

Father Balosa: Do you commit impure acts? Do you touch yourself? Do you know Saint Louis weeps when you touch yourself? Titta: [to himself] Let him cry. I'm not gonna tell you, because you'll only tell Dad. Don't tell me you don't touch yourself. How can you not, when you see the woman in the tobacco shop, as stacked as she is and she says... Export brand? And the math teacher who looks just like a lion? Mother of God! How can you avoid touching yourself when she looks at you that way?

Dialogue

Titta: I didn't know people kissed like that. Did you? With their tongues going in and out? Father Balosa: I'll ask the questions here.

Dialogue

Construction Worker: Mortar, let the boss hear your poem. Aurelio Biondi: Let's hear it. What's it called? Mortar: Bricks. Aurelio Biondi: Good title! Mortar: My grandfather made bricks. My father made bricks. I make bricks too. But, where's my house?

Dialogue

Aurelio Biondi: I can stare at an egg for hours, wondering how nature can make things so perfect. Miranda: 'Cause it was God who made nature, not an ignoramus like you!

Dialogue

Father Balosa: Do you honor your father and mother? Titta: Yes, but they don't honor me. They beat me. Father Balosa: You must annoy them.

Dialogue

Aurelio Biondi: He's getting worse and worse! They're a pair of little hoodlums! You've brought them up wrong! Miranda Biondi: Then you do it! Let's see how well you do! I can't stand any more! I'm going crazy! I'm going mad! I'll kill the whole lot of you! No? No? I'll put strychnine in your soup! That's what I'll do! But I'll kill myself first! Aurelio Biondi: Good. Miranda Biondi: Right now! Aurelio Biondi: Go ahead. Miranda Biondi: You'll see! Aurelio Biondi: I'll kill myself first!

Dialogue

Father Balosa: Do you tell lies? Titta: I have to!

Dialogue

Aurelio Biondi: Miranda. Miranda! Who locked the gate? Miranda Biondi: I did. Aurelio Biondi: Why? Miranda Biondi: You know why. Aurelio Biondi: Unlock it. You've heard what's been going on in the piazza all day. Open up. I have business to take care of. Miranda Biondi: Nothing doing. You're staying at home. What's all this stuff? If I wanted to be a widow, I'd kill you myself. I'll strangle you with your neckerchief! Aurelio Biondi: Think I'm scared of those black-shirted lice? Give me the key. Give me the key! Miranda! Damn it all!

Dialogue

Titta: Uncle's not feeling good. Aurelio Biondi: Then take him to the whorehouse.