”You were not made to live like brutes,
but to follow virtue and knowledge“
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- Meaning
- The phrase means that human beings were not created to live like animals without reason and passion, but to seek virtue and knowledge. This reflects Dante's view of human nature and its fundamental vocation towards discovery, culture, and morality. Ulysses, the speaker in the poem, represents the aspiration for exploration and the challenge of crossing the boundaries of knowledge, even at the cost of one's life.
- Allegory
- The image might include Ulysses on a small boat in a stormy sea, symbolizing the difficult and dangerous journey towards knowledge. The bright horizon represents the hoped-for destination of virtue and knowledge. The threatening clouds can represent the risks and temptations to be overcome, while the opening towards the blue sky connects with the hope and promise of discovery. Mountains and stars add a sense of aspiration and greatness, reinforcing the importance of the human mission in an eternally vast and fascinating context.
- Applicability
- The message of the phrase can be applied to everyday life in many ways. It encourages people to pursue lofty goals, to cultivate their intellectual and moral capacities, and to not settle for a life of mediocrity or mere survival. It invites an active quest for knowledge and a determination to live a meaningful and virtuous life.
- Impact
- The phrase has had a significant impact on Western culture as part of one of the greatest literary masterpieces in history, the "Divine Comedy." It has inspired generations of readers, writers, and thinkers, influencing the Renaissance and Renaissance humanism. It is often quoted as an invitation not to settle for a basic life but to always seek virtue and knowledge.
- Historical Context
- This phrase comes from the "Divine Comedy," written between 1308 and 1320. In the Middle Ages, the cultural and literary context was characterized by a strong tension between religious faith and emerging humanism. Although Dante framed his work in a theological context, he paved the way for the appreciation of human intellect and exploratory knowledge. The values of virtue and knowledge were also crucial components of the scholastic philosophy of the time.
- Criticisms
- There are no significant criticisms related to the phrase itself, although the character of Ulysses and his drive towards knowledge have been subjects of debate. Some might interpret Ulysses' excessive aspiration negatively as hubris, a form of excessive pride that leads to ruin. However, in most interpretations, the message is generally seen in a positive light.
- Variations
- There are no significant variations of the phrase, although the message of seeking knowledge and virtue finds parallels in many cultures. For instance, in the Chinese Confucian tradition, the emphasis is on self-improvement and continuous learning as moral duties.
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In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity.
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And then we emerged to see the stars again.
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Your will is free, upright, and whole; henceforth, you act according to its discretion. Therefore, I crown and mitre you over yourself.
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"Through me the way is to the city of woe, through me the way is to eternal pain, through me the way among the lost people."
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In His will is our peace.
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In the middle of the journey of our life, I found myself within a dark forest, for the straight way had been lost.
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To run upon better waters now hoists sail the little vessel of my genius, leaving behind itself a sea so cruel.
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Abandon all hope, ye who enter here.
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Infinite goodness has such wide arms, that it embraces all that turns to it.
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O tempora, o mores!.
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