Quotes from The Divine Comedy

Quotations follow the John Ciardi translation (Signet Classics, 1954) — our recommended edition.

1. 2

   In the middle of the journey of our life, I found myself within a dark wood where the straight way was lost.

2. 3

   The Love that moves the sun and the other stars.

3. 4

   Through me you pass into the city of woe: through me you pass into eternal pain: through me among the people lost for aye.

4. 5

   Midway upon the journey of our life I found myself within a forest dark, for the straightforward pathway had been lost.

5. 6

   The Love which moves the sun and the other stars.

6. 7

   Thence we came forth to rebehold the stars.

7. 8

   There is no greater sorrow than to be mindful of the happy time in misery.

8. 9

   Consider ye the seed from which ye sprang; ye were not made to live like unto brutes, but for pursuit of virtue and of knowledge.

9. 10

   Galeotto was the book and he who wrote it. That day no farther did we read therein.

10. 11

    Love, that exempts no one beloved from loving, seized me with pleasure of this man so strongly.

11. 12

    And his will is our peace.

12. 13

    Then hunger did what sorrow could not do.

13. 14

    Thou shalt have proof how savoureth of salt the bread of others, and how hard a road the going down and up another's stairs.

14. 15

    Let us not speak of them, but look, and pass.

15. 16

    I know the traces of the ancient flame.

16. 17

    Pure and disposed to mount unto the stars.

17. 18

    Thou Virgin Mother, daughter of thy Son, humble and high beyond all other creature.

18. 19

    The glory of Him who moveth everything doth penetrate the universe, and shine in one part more and in another less.

19. 20

    Sweet color of the oriental sapphire, that was upgathered in the cloudless aspect of the pure air.

20. 21

    Ah! servile Italy, grief's hostelry! A ship without a pilot in great tempest!

21. 22

    Worldly renown is naught but a breath of wind, which now comes this way and now comes that.

22. 23

    You are my master and my author. You alone are the one from whom I took the beautiful style that has done me honor.