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Thomas Aquinas
In Cantos 18–20, in the heavenly sphere of Jupiter, the souls of the just come together to form a great, glittering eagle across the sky. The eagle’s voice speaks as the collective voice of all the just, defending God’s just character and addressing Dante’s questions about the nature of justice, like the condemnation of unbelievers in Hell. The eagle scathingly condemns the injustice of Christian rulers across Europe.
Eagle Quotes in Paradiso
The Paradiso quotes below are all either spoken by Eagle or refer to Eagle. 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:
).
Canto 19
Quotes
But see this: many cry out: “Christ! Christ! Christ!”
Yet many will, come Judgement, be to Him
less [close] than are those who don’t know Christ.
And Christians such as these the Ethiopian
will damn when souls divide between two schools,
some to eternal riches, some to dearth.
What will the Persians say about your kings,
when once they see that ledger opened up
in which is written all their praiseless doings.
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Explanation and Analysis:
Canto 20
Quotes
‘And so you mortals, in your judgements show
restraint. For even we who look on God
do not yet know who all the chosen are.
Yet this deficiency for us is sweet.
For in this good our own good finds its goal,
that what God wills we likewise seek in will.’
So from that sacred sign was given me,
to bring to my short sight new clarity,
a gentle draught of soothing medicine.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Get the entire Paradiso LitChart as a printable PDF.
Eagle Quotes in Paradiso
The Paradiso quotes below are all either spoken by Eagle or refer to Eagle. 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:
).
Canto 19
Quotes
But see this: many cry out: “Christ! Christ! Christ!”
Yet many will, come Judgement, be to Him
less [close] than are those who don’t know Christ.
And Christians such as these the Ethiopian
will damn when souls divide between two schools,
some to eternal riches, some to dearth.
What will the Persians say about your kings,
when once they see that ledger opened up
in which is written all their praiseless doings.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Canto 20
Quotes
‘And so you mortals, in your judgements show
restraint. For even we who look on God
do not yet know who all the chosen are.
Yet this deficiency for us is sweet.
For in this good our own good finds its goal,
that what God wills we likewise seek in will.’
So from that sacred sign was given me,
to bring to my short sight new clarity,
a gentle draught of soothing medicine.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
