On Italians

The state has no meaning to us. Our sense of community ends when we reach our doorsteps. Indeed, the doormat – not to mention the apartment block staircase and the pavement – has become a no-man's land. We have been a country only for a century and a half. For 2,000 years, we have bowed down before dozens of invaders, obviously in a constant attempt to cheat them. We survived by locking ourselves away in our homes and branding all those in authority as usurpers – as well as foreigners.

Massimo Granellini, Italian stereotypes: yes, we are all individuals! (the Guardian)

Good advice. I once jokingly said that Italy is the place I'd like to ride out the collapse - good food, nice climate, shrinking population, and they've already been through at least one civilizational collapse.