Thus you may understand that love alone is the true seed of every merit in you, and of all acts for which you must atone. Dante Alighieri More Quotes by Dante Alighieri More Quotes From Dante Alighieri It is no learning to understand what you do not retain. Dante Alighieri Honor is the greatest poet. Dante Alighieri poet honor That infinite and indescribable good which is there above races as swiftly to love as a ray of light to a bright body.It gives of itself according to the ardor it finds, so that as charity spreads farther the eternal good increases upon it,and the more souls there are who love, up there, the more there are to love well, and the more love they reflect to each other, as in a mirror. Dante Alighieri light mirrors race The loser, when a game of dice is done, Dante Alighieri done wisdom games No sadness is greater than in misery to rehearse memories of joy. Dante Alighieri sadness joy memories O conscience, upright and stainless, how bitter a sting to thee is a little fault! Dante Alighieri bitterness faults littles The wisest are the most annoyed at the loss of time. Dante Alighieri growing-up loss time In each fire there is a spirit; Each one is wrapped in what is burning him. Dante Alighieri burning spirit fire But if, as morning rises, dreams are true. Dante Alighieri ifs dream morning A mighty flame followeth a tiny spark. Dante Alighieri tiny-things sparks flames The infernal storm, eternal in its rage, sweeps and drives the spirits with its blast; it whirls them, lashing them with punishment. When they are swept back past their place of judgment then come the shrieks, laments, and anguished cries; there they blaspheme God's almighty power. Dante Alighieri punishment lust past Reason flies When following the senses, on clipped wings. Dante Alighieri following reason wings There is no greater pain than to remember, in our present grief, past happiness. Dante Alighieri pain grief past For she doth make my veins and pulses tremble. Dante Alighieri divine-comedy veins pulse Conscience, that boon companion who sets a man free under the strong breastplate of innocence, that bids him on and fear not. Dante Alighieri innocence strong men It may be that a more subtle person would find for this thing a reason of greater subtlety: but such is the reason that I find, and that liketh me best. Dante Alighieri politics political may To get back up to the shining world from there My guide and I went into that hidden tunnel, And Following its path, we took no care To rest, but climbed: he first, then I-so far, through a round aperture I saw appear Some of the beautiful things that Heaven bears, Where we came forth, and once more saw the stars. Dante Alighieri tunnels stars beautiful The human race finds itself in a better situation when it has the higher level of freedom. Dante Alighieri situation levels race Oh blind! Oh ignorant, self-seeking cupidity which spurs us so in the short mortal life and steeps us so through all eternity! Dante Alighieri spurs ignorant self He is not always at ease who laughs. Dante Alighieri laughter ease laughing