Advent Quote by Dante Alighieri
“I affirm that gain is precisely that which comes oftener to the bad man than to the good; for illegitimate gains never come to the good at all, because they reject them. And lawful gains rarely come to the good, because, since much anxious care is needful thereto, and the anxious care of the good man is directed to weightier matters, rarely does the good man give sufficient attention thereto. Wherefore it is clear that in every way the advent of these riches is iniquitous.”
About This Quote
Source Divine Comedy: Inferno, Canto V, 14th century
Ill-gotten wealth is more common among the immoral, while the virtuous rarely gain riches because they focus on higher virtues
In simple terms: Bad people often get more money, good people focus elsewhere
Prioritize virtue over material gain
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- political leadership
- personal finance
- social policy
- charitable work
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance ethical living with financial ambition?
- Can society reward virtue without material incentives?
Goodness may limit material success