Donna Leon Quotes

Powerful Donna Leon for Daily Growth

About Donna Leon

Donna Leon, an acclaimed British-born Italian author, is renowned for her crime fiction novels set in Venice. Born on April 17, 1952, in London, England, she spent most of her adult life residing in Italy before moving to Venice in the late 1980s. The city's unique atmosphere and culture would become the backdrop for her beloved 'Commissario Guido Brunetti' series. Leon graduated from Somerville College, Oxford, with a degree in Modern Languages. Her fascination with Italy deepened after working as an assistant to a British antiques dealer in Florence. In 1988, she published her first novel, 'Death at La Fenice,' which introduced Commissario Brunetti to the world. The book was a critical success and launched a series that would span over two decades. Leon's writing is deeply influenced by her appreciation for Venice, its history, and its complex social fabric. Her novels delve into societal issues, political corruption, and the struggle between tradition and modernity in contemporary Italy. Her works often critically explore Venetian politics and the Italian judicial system, earning her both praise and controversy. In addition to the Brunetti series, Leon has authored several standalone novels, including 'Through a Glass, Darkly' and 'The Waters of Eternal Youth.' She is also a respected translator, having translated Italian poetry into English. Her contributions to literature have been recognized with numerous awards, including the CWA Macchiavoelli Prize for Crime Fiction and the Premio Satura. Donna Leon continues to reside in Venice, where she divides her time between writing and teaching a course on crime fiction at the University of California, Berkeley's Summer Session in Venice. Her work remains a testament to her love for Italy and its intricate tapestry of life.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"In Venice, everyone should be allowed to live as if they were permanent guests."

This quote suggests that everyone in Venice, a city renowned for its beauty, history, and unique culture, should be treated as a visitor or guest, regardless of their permanent residency status. It emphasizes the importance of preserving the spirit of hospitality, respect, and admiration for the city's charm and character that one might feel as a temporary resident or tourist. In essence, it encourages an attitude of appreciation, care, and mindfulness towards Venice and its community, encouraging a sustainable and harmonious coexistence among all who live there.


"The city was silent and still, a great sleeping machine, as it often is in winter."

The quote conveys a sense of tranquility and restfulness that envelops Venice during winter, as if the city itself is in a state of hibernation, much like a mechanical entity lying dormant. It emphasizes the serenity and calm that can be found in the stillness of the cityscape, often overlooked amidst the bustling energy of summer months.


"Every secret has its own rhythm."

The quote "Every secret has its own rhythm" by Donna Leon implies that secrets, like natural phenomena, possess a unique tempo or pattern. This rhythm could be fast, slow, regular, or irregular. It suggests that the way secrets unfold, reveal themselves, or are hidden is not arbitrary but follows an inherent timing, which may be influenced by various factors such as the nature of the secret itself, the people involved, or the circumstances surrounding it. Understanding this rhythm can help in navigating through situations where secrets play a role, whether in literature, real life, or interpersonal relationships.


"The truth isn't always easy to find - especially when you stumble over it."

This quote underscores the idea that uncovering truth can sometimes be challenging, requiring effort and persistence, as one may encounter obstacles or misleading information along the way. It implies a cautious approach is necessary in the pursuit of truth, suggesting that the first impression or easy answer isn't always accurate. The phrase "especially when you stumble over it" suggests that even when the truth seems to present itself unexpectedly, it may not be immediately apparent that it is the truth, and careful consideration is still required to validate its authenticity.


"There are some crimes that don't get solved because the wrong person is in power, or because the right person is out of power."

This quote by Donna Leon suggests a correlation between political leadership and justice. It implies that when an unsuitable individual holds power, they may not address crimes effectively or with integrity, thus preventing resolution. Conversely, if the right individual is not in power, the necessary actions to solve crimes may not be taken either. Essentially, it underscores the importance of competent and ethical leadership in ensuring justice and maintaining order within society.


The character I created, 'Commissario Brunetti,' who appears in all my books, shares similar reading, artistic and musical tastes with me. Subconsciously, I knew that if I was to spend however long it would take to write this book with him, this man would have to be someone I'd like to have dinner with.

- Donna Leon

However, Subconsciously, Tastes

I find the idea of vigilante justice very attractive. I like the idea that the murderer decides that this person has gone too far, and nothing will happen to him unless she does something to stop him.

- Donna Leon

Happen, Attractive, Very, Vigilante

Ruth Bader Ginsburg is the most liberal and illumined of the nine Justices of the U.S. Supreme Court.

- Donna Leon

Nine, Most, Ruth, Justices

I'm involved with a baroque opera company here in Italy. I write some of their booklet material, comments on operas. I also write for some baroque opera festivals because this music is my real passion.

- Donna Leon

Opera, Here, Some, Baroque

I admire Dickens beyond words. He is one of the greatest plotters of all times. Didn't have a clue about women, but he sure could plot.

- Donna Leon

Admire, Could, Sure, Dickens

My father read 'The New York Times,' my mother did secretarial work, we had a dog, we had a garden, I had a brother.

- Donna Leon

Work, New, Read, Garden

All through graduate school, instead of having a television I read murder mysteries: Hammett, Chandler, Ruth Rendell, P. D. James.

- Donna Leon

Through, Ruth, Having, Graduate School

The Germans and Austrians are very polite, the Swiss are very reserved and the Spanish usually kiss me. The Brits write me letters.

- Donna Leon

Very, Polite, Spanish, Letters

I was at La Fenice opera house back in 1991 with friends, and we started talking about a conductor whom none of us liked. Somehow there was an escalation, and we started talking about how to kill him, where to kill him. This struck me as a good idea for a book.

- Donna Leon

Book, Opera, Idea, Struck

I was extraordinarily lucky. I wrote a book because I wanted to see if I could write a mystery. Someone nagged me into sending it to a contest, which it won, after which I was offered a two-book contract, thus requiring the writing of a second book.

- Donna Leon

Book, Lucky, Second, Extraordinarily

The ending is one of my blackest, utterly without hope of any sort.

- Donna Leon

Ending, Sort, Utterly, Blackest

Italians tend to be less rigidly moral and law-abiding than do Anglo-Saxons. They also have a profound suspicion of the state and most of its agencies.

- Donna Leon

Suspicion, Italians, Also, Law-Abiding

Italians know about human nature - they understand human nature perhaps better than anyone else does. They know that people are weak and greedy and lazy and dishonest and they just try to make the best of it; to work around it.

- Donna Leon

Best, Lazy, About, Human Nature

I love music. But I've never owned a TV in my adult life, and I've never lived in a place with a television.

- Donna Leon

Love, Television, TV, Adult Life

Venetians feel affection and loyalty to their city, rather than to the Italian state.

- Donna Leon

Loyalty, City, Rather, Affection

I know you shouldn't spit in your own soup but I think most crime writing is like TV and doesn't make enormous demands on one's intellect.

- Donna Leon

Think, Soup, TV, Demands

I never know what's going to happen in a novel. I don't have a plan or an outline.

- Donna Leon

Never, Happen, Going, Outline

So much of contemporary crime fiction is painful to read and obsessed with violence, particularly against women, and I can't read that.

- Donna Leon

Obsessed, Read, Particularly, Painful

I just go to lunch. And I never know when something is going into the file and something is not.

- Donna Leon

Lunch, Never, Going, File

I have no memory for what happens in what books. I don't know when I might remember a scene, but beats me what book it's in because there are 14 of them now.

- Donna Leon

Book, Memory, Might, No Memory

And I don't want to live anywhere where I am famous. It makes me very, very uncomfortable, because it conveys an advantage over people, and I don't like that.

- Donna Leon

Famous, Over, Very, Uncomfortable

I do not take any pleasure whatsoever in being a famous person.

- Donna Leon

Famous, Whatsoever, Take, Famous Person

A story begins and it always passes from the subjunctive to the declarative. And Italians don't seem to care about making a fine distinction between that which is speculation and that which is fact.

- Donna Leon

Always, Speculation, Which, Italians

I never wanted to be rich or successful or famous. I just wanted to be happy and have fun.

- Donna Leon

Famous, Never, Wanted, Be Happy

I have always had a particular antagonism for the military.

- Donna Leon

Always, Had, Particular, Antagonism

I came to Venice for the first time in 1968 and was lucky enough to make the acquaintanceship, and then the friendship, of two Venetians, Roberta and Franco, who remain my best friends here after almost 50 years.

- Donna Leon

Friendship, Lucky, Here, Venice

I listen to Handel's vocal music, almost exclusively.

- Donna Leon

Music, Listen, Almost, Vocal

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