Paradiso

by

Dante Alighieri

The soul of Beatrice, Dante’s earthly beloved, escorts him through Paradise. Beatrice symbolizes indirect knowledge of God, or revelation. Throughout the ascent through the heavenly spheres, Dante often looks to Beatrice, therefore, for understanding of God, as well as reassurance, until his vision is sufficiently strengthened to gaze on the divine directly. Even so, her beauty is so radiant—her eyes and smile often characterized by light and laughter—that sometimes Dante can’t stare at her for very long. As she guides him through the spheres, Beatrice instructs Dante in theological and philosophical matters when doubts and questions surface in the latter’s mind. When they reach the Empyrean, Beatrice occupies her usual throne, since Dante no longer requires her mediation between himself and direct knowledge of God.

Beatrice Quotes in Paradiso

The Paradiso quotes below are all either spoken by Beatrice or refer to Beatrice. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Earthly and Heavenly Justice Theme Icon
).
Canto 4 Quotes

I see full well that human intellect
can never be content unless that truth
beyond which no truth soars shines down on it.

[…] Born of that will, there rise up, like fresh shoots,
pure doubts. These flourish at the foot of truth.
From height to height, they drive us to the peak.

This beckons me.

Related Characters: Dante Alighieri (speaker), Beatrice
Related Symbols: Light
Page Number: 337
Explanation and Analysis:
Canto 7 Quotes

Between the last great night and first of days
there’s never been nor shall be, either way,
a process soaring, so magnificent.

For God, in giving of Himself to make
humanity sufficient to restore itself,
gave more than, granting pardon, He’d have done.

All other means, in justice, would have come
far short, had not the very Son of God
bowed humbly down to take on human flesh.

Related Characters: Beatrice (speaker), Dante Alighieri
Page Number: 352
Explanation and Analysis:
Canto 23 Quotes

As bolts of fire, unlocked from thunder clouds,
expand beyond containment in those bounds,
then fall to ground […]

so, too, surrounded by this solemn feast,
my own mind, grown the greater now, went forth
and can’t remember what it then became.

‘Open your eyes and look at what I am!
You have seen things by which you’re made so strong,
you can, now, bear to look upon my smile.’

Related Characters: Dante Alighieri (speaker), Beatrice (speaker)
Related Symbols: Light
Page Number: 429
Explanation and Analysis:
Canto 27 Quotes

The order in the natural spheres that stills
the central point and moves, round that, all else,
here sets its confine and begins its rule.

This primal sphere has no “where” other than
the mind of God. The love that makes it turn
is kindled there, so, too, the powers it rains.

Brightness and love contain it in one ring,
as this, in turn, contains the spheres below.
And only He who binds it knows the bond.

Related Characters: Beatrice (speaker), Dante Alighieri
Page Number: 451
Explanation and Analysis:
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Beatrice Quotes in Paradiso

The Paradiso quotes below are all either spoken by Beatrice or refer to Beatrice. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Earthly and Heavenly Justice Theme Icon
).
Canto 4 Quotes

I see full well that human intellect
can never be content unless that truth
beyond which no truth soars shines down on it.

[…] Born of that will, there rise up, like fresh shoots,
pure doubts. These flourish at the foot of truth.
From height to height, they drive us to the peak.

This beckons me.

Related Characters: Dante Alighieri (speaker), Beatrice
Related Symbols: Light
Page Number: 337
Explanation and Analysis:
Canto 7 Quotes

Between the last great night and first of days
there’s never been nor shall be, either way,
a process soaring, so magnificent.

For God, in giving of Himself to make
humanity sufficient to restore itself,
gave more than, granting pardon, He’d have done.

All other means, in justice, would have come
far short, had not the very Son of God
bowed humbly down to take on human flesh.

Related Characters: Beatrice (speaker), Dante Alighieri
Page Number: 352
Explanation and Analysis:
Canto 23 Quotes

As bolts of fire, unlocked from thunder clouds,
expand beyond containment in those bounds,
then fall to ground […]

so, too, surrounded by this solemn feast,
my own mind, grown the greater now, went forth
and can’t remember what it then became.

‘Open your eyes and look at what I am!
You have seen things by which you’re made so strong,
you can, now, bear to look upon my smile.’

Related Characters: Dante Alighieri (speaker), Beatrice (speaker)
Related Symbols: Light
Page Number: 429
Explanation and Analysis:
Canto 27 Quotes

The order in the natural spheres that stills
the central point and moves, round that, all else,
here sets its confine and begins its rule.

This primal sphere has no “where” other than
the mind of God. The love that makes it turn
is kindled there, so, too, the powers it rains.

Brightness and love contain it in one ring,
as this, in turn, contains the spheres below.
And only He who binds it knows the bond.

Related Characters: Beatrice (speaker), Dante Alighieri
Page Number: 451
Explanation and Analysis: