3. Lestingi anticipated the thesis put forward a century later by Henner Hess. Hess, perhaps unaware of the points of similarity, does not acknowledge Lestingi and even includes him among other early writers who misinterpreted the phenomenon (1973: 96). Lestingi argued that mafiosi recognize one another not because they belong to the same organization but because, quoting Tullio, "pares cum paribus facillime congregantur": "The man who shares with another the same habits, inclinations, and goals in life, finds himself naturally tied to him even when no apparent bond, no relationship, not even a previous acquaintance exists. At certain moments they are like two friends who have known each other for a long time and who, with great good will, exchange services and direct their thoughts and deeds toward a common aim" (1880: 292).

Diego Gambetta, The Sicilian Mafia The Busi…, loc. 875