The Leopard Religion Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #1

"A fine thing, science, unless it takes to attacking religion!" (1.36)

King Ferdinand is all about science, except when it goes after religion. For this reason, he should issue a royal decree ordering science to stay at least ten miles away from religion at all times. Unfortunately, his country collapses before he can do that.

Quote #2

[But] it was the religious houses which gave the city its grimness and its character, its sedateness and also the sense of death which not even the vibrant Sicilian light could ever manage to disperse. (1.59)

This passage paints religion in a pretty negative light. In fact, it's painted with no light at all. Instead, religion seems like this grim, totally un-fun presence in Sicily. Maybe it's all those rules about what people can and can't do.

Quote #3

"I'm a sinner, I know, doubly a sinner, by Divine Law and by Stella's human love. There's no doubt of that, and tomorrow I'll go and confess to Father Pirrone." (1.68)

Fabrizio knows that he's done wrong when he cheats on his wife. It's hard to tell how guilty he actually feels, though, when he decides to confess his sin to Father Pirrone the next day. Does he expect confession to make everything all better, or does he actually feel bad? It's really hard to know.