And at least the Mafia has lost its aura of invincibility among ordinary Sicilians.

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Experience had taught Sicilians not to co-operate, but to grab what they could for themselves.

ECONOMIST: Danilo Dolci

The D'Onofrio plan aims to build on the regional pride of the Lombards, Sicilians, Piedmontese, Apulians and so on.

ECONOMIST: Italy

The teacher was Mr. Zuberti, a stuck-up Florentine or Genoese -- from up North somewhere, where they thought Sicilians were scum.

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He cites surveys from 1960 finding Sicilians ignorant of Italy.

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Given year-round water, Sicilians could grow early fruit and vegetables.

ECONOMIST: Danilo Dolci