“Dante's Hell is part of our world as much as part of the underworld, and shouldn't be avoided, Lowell said, but rather confronted. We sound the depths of Hell very often in this life.” — Matthew Pearl Copy Share Image
“Money is good, but it is not all about a man. You will have successes and reversals, but remember it is your reaction to… — Matthew Pearl Copy Share
Though a woman tempted man to eat, my dear Longfellow," said Holmes, "you never hear of Eve having to do with his drinking, for… — Matthew Pearl Copy Share
“We never like the smell of our own vices in other people, Holmes. Ah, let's steer here for a drink or two," Lowell suggested.” — Matthew Pearl Copy Share
Shakespeare brings us to know ourselves. Dante, with his dissection of all others, bids us to know one another. — Matthew Pearl Copy Share
Remember that there are two things in this life that are never worth crying about: what can be cured and what cannot be cured. — Matthew Pearl Copy Share
“Believe that when I am at once a man's friend I am always so-nor is it so very hard to bring me to it.… — Matthew Pearl Copy Share
“On the trees were no longer only leaves but brown fruits, on the bushes no longer blossoms but clusters of red berries. And the… — Matthew Pearl Copy Share
Books do pretend ...but squeezed in between is even more that is true—without what you may call the lies, the pages would be too… — Matthew Pearl Copy Share
“No, never mind, I didn't think so. Mead, Dante's theme is man-not a man.' Lowell said finally with a mild patience that he reserved… — Matthew Pearl Copy Share
“There was still the temptation to believe the world was a mere trap for human sin. But sin, the way he saw it, was… — Matthew Pearl Copy Share
“The force of Dante's poetry resonated most in those who did not confess the Catholic faith, for believers would inevitably have quibbles with Dante's… — Matthew Pearl Copy Share
“...It is the one time Dante calls such explicit attention to the idea of contrapasso-a word for which we have no exact translation, no… — Matthew Pearl Copy Share
...and luckily I have enough in my head to balance what is wanting in my back. — Matthew Pearl Copy Share
“Remember that only when past genius is transmitted into a present power shall we meet the first truly american poet. And somewhere, born to… — Matthew Pearl Copy Share
