“A person, for example, reads in adulthood a book that is important for him, and it makes him say, "How could I have lived without reading it!" and also, "What a pity I did not read it in my youth!" Well, these statements do not have much meaning, especially the second, because after he has read that book, his life becomes the life of a person who has read that book, and it is of little importance whether he read it early or late, because now his life before that reading also assumes a form shaped by that reading.”

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Originally said in English.

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About Italo Calvino

Italian novelist and short story writer of the 20th century, Calvino is best known for his inventive, playful exploration of narrative structure and his six-part *Six Memos for the Next Millennium*, a reflection on literature’s future. His works like *Invisible Cities* and *If on a winter’s night a traveler* blend fantasy, philosophy, and linguistic experimentation, offering insights into memory, time, and human connection.

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"A person, for example, reads in adulthood a book that is important fo…" — Italo Calvino | Daily Quotes