Ignazio Silone (1900-1978)

Secondino Tranquilli, best known by the pseudonym Ignazio Silone, was an Italian politician and writer. He became famous during World War II for his anti-fascist novels. Considered among the most well-known and read Italian intellectuals in Europe and in the world, his most famous novel, Fontamara, became emblematic for its denunciation of the condition of poverty, injustice, and social oppression of the lower classes, and has been translated into numerous languages. From 1946 to the 1970s, he was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature at least 13 times.

Quotes

Liberty is the possibility of doubting, the possibility of making a mistake, the possibility of searching and experimenting, the possibility of saying No to any authority--literary, artistic, philosophic, religious, social and even political.
On a group of theories one can found a school; but on a group of values one can found a culture, a civilization, a new way of living together among men.