Never Read Dante or Ariosto

A Neapolitan fought fourteen duels to prove that Dante was a greater poet than Ari- osto. At his death-bed, his confessor desired him, by way of penance, to acknowledge the superiority of Ariosto. “Father,” answered the dying man, “to tell the truth, I never read either Dante or Ariosto.”

An old printed anecdote describes a Neapolitan who fought fourteen duels defending Dante’s superiority over Ariosto. On his deathbed, he admits he had never read either poet, making the joke about passionate ignorance and arguing confidently without knowing the subject.

• @right_wing_dev_squads / 13950 2026-02-28