“Even the arts are struggling: although there are fine Italian film directors, there is none to match Fellini or Visconti, and Monica Bellucci, for all her beauty, is no Sophia Loren (in any case she lives in Paris).”

“Italians are ruling significant parts of the world: Fabio Capello has taken charge of the England football team and Carla Bruni has conquered the heart of the French President.”