Carlo Collodi
Pinocchio, spurred on by the hope of finding his father and of being in time to save him, swam all night long.Collection: Hope
Once upon a time there was a piece of wood. It was not an expensive piece of wood. Far from it. Just a common block of firewood, one of those thick, solid logs that are put on the fire in winter to make cold rooms cozy and warm.
When poverty shows itself, even mischievous boys understand what it means.
How ridiculous I was as a Marionette! And how happy I am, now that I have become a real boy!
A thousand woodpeckers flew in through the window and settled themselves on Pinocchio's nose.
How it happened that Mastro Cherry, carpenter, found a piece of wood that wept and laughed like a child.
At such a loving invitation, Pinocchio, with one leap from the back of the orchestra, found himself in the front rows. With another leap, he was on the orchestra leader's head. With a third, he landed on the stage.
A boy's appetite grows very fast, and in a few moments the queer, empty feeling had become hunger, and the hunger grew bigger and bigger, until soon he was as ravenous as a bear.
Fancy the happiness of Pinocchio on finding himself free! Without saying yes or no, he fled from the city and set out on the road that was to take him back to the house of the lovely Fairy.
Woe to those who lead idle lives. Idleness is a dreadful illness and must be cured in childhood. If it is not cured then, it can never be cured.Collection: Childhood
A conscience is that still small voice that people won't listen to.Collection: Voice
Most unfortunately, in the lives of puppets there is always a 'but' that spoils everything.Collection: Puppets
In the Land of Toys, every day, except Sunday, is a Saturday. Vacation begins on the first of January and ends on the last day of December. That is the place for me! All countries should be like it! How happy we should all be!Collection: Country
Never trust people who promise to make you rich in a day. They are generally crazy swindlersCollection: Crazy
What matters school? We can go to school to-morrow. Whether we have a lesson more or a lesson less, we shall always remain the same donkeys.Collection: School
Today at school I will learn to read at once; then tomorrow I will begin to write, and the day after tomorrow to cipher. Then with my acquirements I will earn a great deal of money, and with the first money I have in my pocket I will immediately buy for my papa a beautiful new cloth coat. But what am I saying? Cloth, indeed! It shall be all made of gold and silver, and it shall have diamond buttons. That poor man really deserves it; for to buy me books and to have me taught he has remained in his shirt sleeves... And in this cold! It is only fathers who are capable of such sacrifices!Collection: Beautiful
Would it be possible to find a more ungrateful boy, or one with less heart than I have!Collection: Heart
Woe to the lazy man! Laziness is an evil disease which you must not let seize you in childhood, for when you grow up it cannot be cured. Chapter 25Collection: Growing Up