And tears are heard within the harp I touch.

Meaning of the quote

The quote suggests that the poet's music or art can make people feel sad or emotional, as if the harp itself is crying or weeping. The poet is able to express deep feelings and sadness through their creative work, touching the hearts of the listeners.

About Petrarch

Petrarch was a renowned Italian scholar and poet of the early Renaissance, credited with initiating the 14th-century Italian Renaissance and the founding of Renaissance humanism. His sonnets and writings were highly influential across Europe, and he is also known for being the first to develop the concept of the ‘Dark Ages’.

More about the author

More quotes from Petrarch

Man has no greater enemy than himself.

Petrarch

Italian scholar and poet (1304-1374)

It is more honorable to be raised to a throne than to be born to one. Fortune bestows the one, merit obtains the other.

Petrarch

Italian scholar and poet (1304-1374)

To begin with myself, then, the utterances of men concerning me will differ widely, since in passing judgment almost every one is influenced not so much by truth as by preference, and good and evil report alike know no bounds.

Petrarch

Italian scholar and poet (1304-1374)

And tears are heard within the harp I touch.

Petrarch

Italian scholar and poet (1304-1374)

Who naught suspects is easily deceived.

Petrarch

Italian scholar and poet (1304-1374)

Love is the crowning grace of humanity.

Petrarch

Italian scholar and poet (1304-1374)

To be able to say how much love, is love but little.

Petrarch

Italian scholar and poet (1304-1374)

Suspicion is the cancer of friendship.

Petrarch

Italian scholar and poet (1304-1374)

There is no lighter burden, nor more agreeable, than a pen.

Petrarch

Italian scholar and poet (1304-1374)

Sameness is the mother of disgust, variety the cure.

Petrarch

Italian scholar and poet (1304-1374)

How fortune brings to earth the over-sure!

Petrarch

Italian scholar and poet (1304-1374)

Do you suppose there is any living man so unreasonable that if he found himself stricken with a dangerous ailment he would not anxiously desire to regain the blessing of health?

Petrarch

Italian scholar and poet (1304-1374)

How difficult it is to save the bark of reputation from the rocks of ignorance.

Petrarch

Italian scholar and poet (1304-1374)

True, we love life, not because we are used to living, but because we are used to loving. There is always some madness in love, but there is also always some reason in madness.

Petrarch

Italian scholar and poet (1304-1374)

Five enemies of peace inhabit with us – avarice, ambition, envy, anger, and pride; if these were to be banished, we should infallibly enjoy perpetual peace.

Petrarch

Italian scholar and poet (1304-1374)

What name to call thee by, O virgin fair, I know not, for thy looks are not of earth And more than mortal seems thy countenances.

Petrarch

Italian scholar and poet (1304-1374)

Rarely do great beauty and great virtue dwell together.

Petrarch

Italian scholar and poet (1304-1374)

Books have led some to learning and others to madness.

Petrarch

Italian scholar and poet (1304-1374)

Often have I wondered with much curiosity as to our coming into this world and what will follow our departure.

Petrarch

Italian scholar and poet (1304-1374)

A short cut to riches is to subtract from our desires.

Petrarch

Italian scholar and poet (1304-1374)

The aged love what is practical while impetuous youth longs only for what is dazzling.

Petrarch

Italian scholar and poet (1304-1374)