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The great refusal.
[It., Il gran rifiuto.]
Topic: Ambition
Source: Inferno (canto III, LX), supposedly referring to Celestive V, elected Pope in 1294
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My soul tasted that heavenly food, which gives new appetite while
it satiates.
[It., L'anima mia gustava di quel cibo,
Che saziando di se, di se s'asseta.]
Topic: Appetite
Source: Purgatorio (XXXI, 128)
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Art, as far as it is able, follow nature, as a pupil imitates his
master; thus your art must be, as it were, God's grandchild.
[It., L'arte vostra quella, quanto puote,
Seque, come il maestro fa il discente;
Si che vostr'arte a Dio quasi e nipote.]
Topic: Art
Source: Inferno (XI, 103)
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Art for art's sake.
[Lat., Ars gratia artis.]
Topic: Art
Source: Inferno (XI, 103)
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The vesper bell from far
That seems to mourn for the expiring day.
Topic: Bells
Source: Purgatorio (canto 8, l. 6)
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Ah, savage company; but in the church
With saints, and in the taverns with the gluttons.
Topic: Companionship
Source: Inferno (XXII, 13)
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O faithful conscience, delicately pure, how doth a little failing
wound thee sore!
[It., O dignitosa coscienza e netta,
Come t' e picciol fallo amaro morso.]
Topic: Conscience
Source: Purgatorio (III, 8)
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So may heaven's grace clear away the foam from the conscience,
that the river of thy thoughts may roll limpid thenceforth,
[It., Se toso grazia risolva le schiume
Di vostra conscienza, si che chiaro
Per essa scenda della mente il fiume.]
Topic: Conscience
Source: Purgatorio (XIII, 88)
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Never do anything against conscience even if the state demands
it.
Topic: Conscience
Source: Purgatorio (XIII, 88)
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Be steadfast as a tower that doth not bend its stately summit to
the tempest's shock.
[It., Sta come torre ferme, che non crolla
Giammai la cima per soffiar de' venti.]
Topic: Courage
Source: Purgatorio (V, 14)
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O how far remov'd,
Predestination! is thy foot from such
As see not the First Cause entire: and ye,
O mortal men! be wary how ye judge:
For we, who see the Maker, know not yet
The number of the chosen; and esteem
Such scantiness of knowledge our delight:
For all good is, in that primal good,
Concentrate; and God's will and ours are one.
Topic: Doctrine
Source: Vision of Paradise (canto XX, l. 122)
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Doubting charms me not less than knowledge.
[It., Non menno che saper, dubbiar m'aggrata.]
Topic: Doubt
Source: Inferno (XI, 93)
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Three sparks--pride, envy, and avarice--have been kindled in all
hearts.
[It., Superbia, invidia ed avarizia sono
Le tre faville che hanno i cori accesi.]
Topic: Evil
Source: Inferno (VI, 74)
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It is easier to denature plutonium than to denature the evil
spirit of man.
Topic: Evil
Source: Inferno (VI, 74)
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Thou shalt know by experience how salt the savor is of other's
bread, and how sad a path it is to climb and descend another's
stairs.
[It., Tu proverai si come sa di sale
Lo pane altrui, e com e duro calle
Lo scendere e'l salir per l'altrui scale.]
Topic: Experience
Source: Paradiso (XVII, 58)
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Not in mine eyes alone in Paradise.
Topic: Eyes
Source: Paradiso (XVIII, 21)
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Their eyes seem'd rings from whence the gems were gone.
[It., Parean l'occhiaje anella senza gemme.]
Topic: Eyes
Source: Purgatorio (XXXII, 31)
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The splendors that belong unto the fame of earth are but a wind,
that in the same direction lasts not long.
[It., Non e il mondam romore alro che un fiato
Di vento, che vien quinci et or vien quindi,
E muta nome, perche muta lato.]
Topic: Fame
Source: Purgatorio (XI, 100)
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All your renown is like the summer flower that blooms and dies;
because the sunny glow which brings it forth, soon slays with
parching power.
[It., La vostra nominanza e color d'erba,
Che viene e va; e quei la discolora
Per cui ell' esce della terra acerba.]
Topic: Fame
Source: Purgatorio (XI, 115)
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There is in hell a place stone-built throughout,
Called Malebolge, of an iron hue,
Like to the wall that circles it about.
Topic: Hell
Source: Inferno (canto XVIII, l. 1)
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Abandon hope, all ye who enter here.
[It., Lasciate ogni speranza ch'entrate.]
Topic: Hope
Source: Inferno (III, 1, 9)
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Still desiring, we live without hope.
[It., Senza speme vivemo in desio.]
Topic: Hope
Source: Inferno (IV, 42)
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Justice does not descend from its pinnacle.
[It., Cima di giudizio non s'avvalla.]
Topic: Justice
Source: Purgatorio (VI, 37)
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What I saw was equal ecstasy:
One universal smile it seemed of all things.
[It., Cio ch'io vedeva mi sembrava un riso
Dell's universo.]
Topic: Laughter
Source: Paradiso (XXVII, 5)
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He is not always at ease who laughs.
[Fr., Ce n'est pas etre bien aise que de rire.]
Topic: Laughter
Source: Paradiso (XXVII, 5)
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It was evening here,
But upon earth the very noon of night.
Topic: Midnight
Source: Purgatorio (canto XV, l. 5)
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It is necessity and not pleasure that compels us.
[It., Necessita c'induce, e non diletto.]
Topic: Necessity
Source: Inferno (XII, 87)
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The graveyards are full of indispensable men.
Topic: Necessity
Source: Inferno (XII, 87)
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Go forth and preach impostures to the world,
But give them truth to build on.
Topic: Preaching
Source: Vision of Paradise (canto XXIX)
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From little spark may burst a mighty flame.
Topic: Results
Source: Paradise (canto I, l. 34)
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Perfection of means and confusion of ends seem to characterize
our age.
Topic: Results
Source: Paradise (canto I, l. 34)
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Less shame a greater fault would palliate.
[Lat., Maggior difetto men vergogna lava.]
Topic: Shame
Source: Inferno (XXX, 142)
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There is no greater sorrow
Than to be mindful of the happy time
In misery.
[Lat., Nessun maggior dolore
Che ricordarsi del tempo felice
Nella miseria.]
Topic: Sorrow
Source: Inferno (V, 121), (Longfellow's translation)
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