Pasquino is always right — an assertion that popular, anonymous satire always hits the truth that official discourse conceals. The proverb celebrates the Roman tradition of the talking statues as a vehicle for political truth-telling, and by extension the wisdom of popular opinion against official narratives.
Pasquino is a fragmentary ancient Roman statue — possibly depicting Menelaus supporting the dying Patroclus — discovered in 1501 near Piazza Navona and installed at what is now Piazza di Pasquino. Within years of its installation, Romans began posting anonymous satirical verses on the statue, a practice that became known as 'pasquinate.' The statue 'spoke' on behalf of the common people against popes, cardinals, princes, and foreign rulers. At various points the posting of pasquinate was punishable by death — Pope Adrian VI threatened to throw the statue into the Tiber — but the tradition proved impossible to suppress. Pasquino's 'conversations' with the other talking statues of Rome (particularly Marforio at the Capitoline Museums and Madama Lucrezia near Piazza San Marco) created an unofficial public sphere in a city where the press was censored and political opposition was forbidden. The tradition continues today: fresh pasquinate appear on the statue regularly, commenting on current Italian politics.
The statue of Pasquino, identified as a Hellenistic original of the third century BC, was placed at its current location in 1501 by Cardinal Oliviero Carafa. The practice of attaching satirical verses to the statue — the 'pasquinate' — became so culturally significant that 'pasquinata' entered Italian as a common noun meaning any anonymous satirical poem.
A Roman journalist defends satirical coverage of a politician
La satira è necessaria. Er Pasquino ha sempre ragione — e chi se ne offende ha qualcosa da nascondere.
Satire is necessary. Pasquino is always right — and whoever takes offence has something to hide.
A Roman shows a tourist the statue and its fresh notes
Guarda — ci sono ancora i biglietti di stanotte. Er Pasquino ha sempre ragione, da cinquecento anni.
Look — there are still last night's notes. Pasquino is always right, for five hundred years.
A Roman comments on a revealing anonymous leak
Qualcuno ha fatto uscire la verità in modo anonimo. Er Pasquino ha sempre ragione — anche oggi.
Someone released the truth anonymously. Pasquino is always right — even today.
A Roman grandmother uses the proverb about neighborhood gossip that proved true
Lo dicevano tutti al mercato e nessuno ci credeva. Ma er Pasquino ha sempre ragione.
Everyone at the market was saying it and nobody believed it. But Pasquino is always right.