Rita Levi-Montalcini Details

I have lost a bit of my sight, much of my hearing. At conferences, I can't see the presentations and can't hear well. But I think more now than when I when I was twenty. The body can do whatever it likes. I am not the body: I am the mind.

Man is ruined by servility, conformism, obsequiousness, rather than aggressiveness, which is much more common in the environment than within ourselves.

In life one should never give in, surrender oneself to mediocrity, but rather move out of that grey area where everything is habit and passive resignation. One has to grow the courage to rebel.

The women who changed the world never needed to show anything other than their own intelligence.

I never had any hesitation or regrets in this sense. My life has been enriched by excellent human relations, work and interests. I have never felt lonely.

Rare are those people who use the mind, few use the heart and really unique are those who use both.

Everything came easy to me in life. I could always shake off difficulties, like water on a duck's wings.

I'm an atheist: I don't know what it means to believe in God.

Better to add life to your days than days to your life.