In the United States theres a Puritan ethic and a mythology of success. He who is successful is good. In Latin countries, in Catholic countries, a successful person is a sinner. – Umberto Eco
I believe that what we become depends on what our fathers teach us at odd moments, when they arent trying to teach us. – Umberto Eco
There are more people than you think who want to have a challenging experience, in which they are obliged to reflect about the past. – Umberto Eco
A book is a fragile creature, it suffers the wear of time, it fears rodents, the elements and clumsy hands. so the librarian protects the books not only against mankind but also against nature and devotes his life to this war with the forces of oblivion. – Umberto Eco
When somebody has an enormous success in this culture, people start asking two questions, which are What are you doing now? and How are you going to beat that? And I have to say, I love the assumption that your intention is to beat yourself constantly – that youre in battle against yourself. – Elizabeth Gilbert