Umberto Eco Quotes & Sayings (Page 7)

“The function of memory is not only to preserve, but also to throw away. If you remembered everything from your entire life, you would be sick.”

“The United States needed a civil war to unite properly.”

“After years of practice, I can walk into a bookstore and understand its layout in a few seconds. I can glance at the spine of a book and make a good guess at its content from a number of signs.”

“Political satire is a serious thing. In democratic newspapers throughout the world there are daily cartoons that often are not even funny, as is the case especially in many English-language newspapers. Instead, they contain a political message, and the artist takes full responsibility.”

“I could work in the shower if I had plastic paper.”

“If western culture is shown to be rich, it is because, even before the Enlightenment, it has tried to 'dissolve' harmful simplifications through inquiry and the critical mind.”

“Fear prophets and those prepared to die for the truth, for as a rule they make many others die with them, often before them, at times instead of them.”

“Better reality than a dream: if something is real, then it's real and you're not to blame.”

“There is nothing more difficult to define than an aphorism.”

“Every European goes on the streets and sees medieval churches. Not if you live in Indianapolis. The most exciting letters I received were from people in places like that.”