Proust Questionnaire by Flavio
- What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Having no pending duties on a free day with my husband. - What is your greatest fear?
War, hunger, the end of drinking water. - What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
Stubbornness and over-sensitiveness to criticism. - What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Rudeness, selfishness, loudness. - Which living person do you most admire?
Anybody who fights adversity and follows a dream. - What is your greatest extravagance?
Clothes. - What is your current state of mind?
Feeling busy, multitasking, excited about what’s coming, loved. - What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
(False) modesty, (false) ascetism. - On what occasion do you lie?
When I am sure the truth will hurt the person in front of me. But then more omitting than lying. - What do you most dislike about your appearance?
My hair is never as perfect as I would like it to be. Otherwise, I am pretty happy about my body. - Which living person do you most despise?
Autocratic, fascist, homophobic, patriarchal leaders of some countries – we all know the names. - What is the quality you most like in a man?
Kindness, tenderness, strength. - What is the quality you most like in a woman?
Kindness, tenderness, strength. - Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
“Sorry!” and “Thank you!” – hundreds of times a day. - What or who is the greatest love of your life?
My husband. - When and where were you happiest?
Right now. - Which talent would you most like to have?
Being sporty/athletic/fit. - If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
I cannot regret even my bad moments of the past – they taught me something. I am what I am. But I’d like to be less nervous, less anxious, less worried about things in general. - What do you consider your greatest achievement?
That I did everything I wanted to do in my life, paying for it, but never compromising – and that I still have so many things I want to do in life. - If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be?
Either a river or a flying animal, probably an eagle. - Where would you most like to live?
Wherever my heart is, it’s home. - What is your most treasured possession?
If you mean an object: I would choose symbolically – anything from my childhood, even a little toy. - What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
The dark chasm of depression. - What is your favorite occupation?
Teaching, reading, playing with computers, cooking. - What is your most marked characteristic?
I am transparent. - What do you most value in your friends?
Kindness. - Who are your favorite writers?
Metastasio, Petrarca, Austen, the Brontës, difficult to choose. The classics. - Who is your hero of fiction?
Cyrano de Bergerac. - Which historical figure do you most identify with?
I cannot think of any in particular, but surely one that fought for rights and inclusion, often breaking boundaries. I like strong, independent women in history. - Who are your heroes in real life?
Anybody who fights adversities to do something and become someone, without losing his/her/their integrity, honesty, passion, and kindness. - What are your favorite names?
Vincenzo, Laura. - What is it that you most dislike?
Rudeness, loud noise, crowds, inhumanity. - What is your greatest regret?
Having disrespected and hurt myself in the past – that’s over. - How would you like to die?
Having the certainty that everything is settled for those around me – otherwise I wouldn’t be able to close my eyes. And in my sleep, after having prayed. - What is your motto?
“Extende manum tuam” – from Matthew 12. Open your hand – and it will be healed.
In the past, it was also “Sed canit inter opus” from Tibullus (I think): “He sings even in chains.”