Dante Alighieri
Dante Alighieri
Durante degli Alighieri, simply called Dante, was a major Italian poet of the Late Middle Ages. His Divine Comedy, originally called Comedìaand later christened Divina by Boccaccio, is widely considered the greatest literary work composed in the Italian language and a masterpiece of world literature...
NationalityItalian
ProfessionPoet
CountryItaly
men air water
Fame is not won on downy plumes nor under canopies; the man who consumes his days without obtaining it leaves such mark of himself on earth as smoke in air or foam on water.
sea water heaven
To course across more kindly waters now my talent's little vessel lifts her sails, leaving behind herself a sea so cruel; and what I sing will be that second kingdom, in which the human soul is cleansed of sin, becoming worthy of ascent to Heaven.
water shore turns
And as he, who with laboring breath has escaped from the deep to the shore, turns to the perilous waters and gazes.
running sea water
To run over better waters the little vessel of my genius now hoists her sails, as she leaves behind her a sea so cruel.
great help projects small
Small projects need much more help than great ones.
air cries faint horrible knows pain sand uncouth
Uncouth tongues, horrible shriekings of despair, Shrill and faint voices, cries of pain and rage, And, with it all, smiting of hands, were there, Making a tumult, nothing could assuage, To swirl in the air that knows not day or night, Like sand withi
born consider follow virtue
Consider your origin; you were not born to live like brutes, but to follow virtue and knowledge.
consider follow knowledge might virtue
Consider your origins: you were not made that you might live as brutes, but so as to follow virtue and knowledge
consider follow humankind virtue
Consider your breed; you were not made to live like beasts, but to follow virtue and knowledge.
crown happier sorrow
A sorrow's crown of sorrow, Is remembering happier things
cause dim hidden intellect judgment lies lies-and-lying number remote root since skill therefore thy
Predestination! how remote and dim Thy root lies hidden from the intellect Which only glimpses the First Cause Supreme! And you, ye mortals, keep your judgment checked, Since we, who see God, have not therefore skill To know yet all the number of the
love moves sun
Love that moves the sun and the other stars.
borne disgrace lived miserable praise souls state wretched
This miserable state is borne by the wretched souls of those who lived without disgrace and without praise.
brought cut division society
Yes, and he's cut in two because he has brought division to society.