--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: And I — my head oppressed by horror…" description: "\"“And I — my head oppressed by horror — said: \"Master, what is it that I hear? Who are those people so defeated by their pain?\" And he to me: \"This mise..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f14/dante-alighieri-590_indecision_and-i-my-head-oppressed-by-horror-said-m_2635172.jpg" --- # And I — my head oppressed by horror — said: "Master, what… ![“And I — my head oppressed by horror — said: "Master, what is it that I hear? Who are those people so defeated by their pain?" And he to me: "This miserable way is taken by the sorry souls of those who lived without disgrace and without praise. They now commingle with the coward angels, the company…” quote by Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f14/dante-alighieri-590_indecision_and-i-my-head-oppressed-by-horror-said-m_2635172.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f14/dante-alighieri-590_indecision_and-i-my-head-oppressed-by-horror-said-m_2635172.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f14/dante-alighieri-590_indecision_and-i-my-head-oppressed-by-horror-said-m_2635172.jpg) > ““And I — my head oppressed by horror — said: "Master, what is it that I hear? Who are those people so defeated by their pain?" And he to me: "This miserable way is taken by the sorry souls of those who lived without disgrace and without praise. They now commingle with the coward angels, the company of those who were not rebels nor faithful to their God, but stood apart. The heavens, that their beauty not be lessened, have cast them out, nor will deep Hell receive them — even the wicked cannot glory in them.”” [Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The passage describes souls who lived without distinction, neither praised nor condemned, now cast between heaven and hell, unable to find honor or redemption. **In simple terms:** Souls without honor are lost between heaven and hell. Key Takeaway Recognize the value of living with purpose and integrity. Themes morality spirituality existence redemption purpose Mood somber contemplative Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - personal reflection - ethical decision making - spiritual contemplation - literary analysis Key Concepts afterlife ethical ambiguity divine justice Questions to Reflect On - How do we define a life lived without disgrace or praise? - Can neutral existence be meaningful? A Different Perspective The text assumes a binary moral framework that may not capture nuanced human experience. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Indecision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indecision/) [Indifference](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indifference/) [Mediocrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mediocrity/) [Oppressed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oppressed/) ## Related quotes > [This miserable way is taken by the sorry souls of those who lived without disgrace and without praise. They now commingle with the coward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/this-miserable-way-is-taken-by-the-sorry-souls-of-those-who-lived/) [Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/) > [“You fill me with horror," said Jord. His hands were tight on his knife. Both his hands, now. "Captain," a voice called. "Captain!" Damen's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-u-pacat/you-fill-me-with-horror-said-jord-his-hands-were-tight-on-his-knife/) [S.U. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-u-pacat/) > [My eyes flew open, and I pushed back against rock-hard shoulders. I let out a little squeak of horror. "It's me," said a familiar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlaine-harris/my-eyes-flew-open-and-i-pushed-back-against-rock-hard-shoulders-i-let/) [Charlaine Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlaine-harris/) > [“Clearly, you don't know much about horror, he said. Horror is premised on the experience of what we do not and cannot understand, whereas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-la-farge/clearly-you-don-t-know-much-about-horror-he-said-horror-is-premised/) [Paul La Farge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-la-farge/) > [“Then Joe said, “I know what it was — split personality — when a man is two people at once.” “Huh?” Danny grunted. “Sure.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-williams/then-joe-said-i-know-what-it-was-split-personality-when-a-man-is-two/) [Jay Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-williams/) > [Luckily, even as a young man not yet become himself, John Bridgens had two things besides indecision that kept him from self-destruction - books…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/luckily-even-as-a-young-man-not-yet-become-himself-john-bridgens-had/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [“To him, a stilted geometric love of arrangement was “system,” and indefatigable and feverish interest in the pettiest facets of day-to-day bureaucracy was “industry”,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/to-him-a-stilted-geometric-love-of-arrangement-was-system-and/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [“The past tense of regret is indecision.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/welcome-to-nightvale-podcast/the-past-tense-of-regret-is-indecision/) Welcome to Nightvale Podcast > [Indecision is a decision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/indecision-is-a-decision/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only thing we don't do together is get in front of an actor and show any indecision at all about what we think.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-farrelly/the-only-thing-we-don-t-do-together-is-get-in-front-of-an-actor-and/) [Bobby Farrelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-farrelly/) > [ \[On being indecisive and changeable:\] On my gravestone I want inscribed: 'On the other hand, maybe I should have lived. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-walters/on-being-indecisive-and-changeable-on-my-gravestone-i-want-inscribed/) [Barbara Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-walters/) > [ “And while \[we\] do have possibilities that are vast and magnificent and almost infinite in scope, it's important to remember that our choice-rich lives… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/and-while-we-do-have-possibilities-that-are-vast-and-magnificent-and/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [Follow your heart, but don't leave your brain behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-van-zyl/follow-your-heart-but-don-t-leave-your-brain-behind/) [Matthew Van Zyl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-van-zyl/) > [Indecision becomes decision with time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/indecision-becomes-decision-with-time/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Making the right decision is hard,telling someone your decision is even harder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/making-the-right-decision-is-hard-telling-someone-your-decision-is/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) ## More by Dante Alighieri > [In that part of the book of my memory before the which is little that can be read, there is a rubric, saying, Incipit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/in-that-part-of-the-book-of-my-memory-before-the-which-is-little-that/) [Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/) > [“Be as a tower, that, firmly set, Shakes not its top for any blast that blows!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/be-as-a-tower-that-firmly-set-shakes-not-its-top-for-any-blast-that/) [Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/) > [Pure essence, and pure matter, and the two joined into one were shot forth without flaw, like three bright arrows from a three-string bow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/pure-essence-and-pure-matter-and-the-two-joined-into-one-were-shot/) [Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/) > [Into the eternal darkness, into fire and into ice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/into-the-eternal-darkness-into-fire-and-into-ice/) [Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/) > [O power of fantasy that steals our minds from things outside, to leave us unaware, although a thousand trumpets may blow loud--what stirs you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/o-power-of-fantasy-that-steals-our-minds-from-things-outside-to-leave/) [Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/) > [The purpose of the whole (work) is to remove those who are living in this life from a state of wretchedness and lead them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/the-purpose-of-the-whole-work-is-to-remove-those-who-are-living-in/) [Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/) > [“Noi leggeveamo un giorno per diletto Di Lancialotto, come amor lo strinse; Soli eravamo e senza alcun sospetto Per più fiate gli occhi ci…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/noi-leggeveamo-un-giorno-per-diletto-di-lancialotto-come-amor-lo/) [Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/) > [Love can move the Sun and the stars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/love-can-move-the-sun-and-the-stars/) [Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/) > [Oh foolish desires of mortals! How weak are the reasons that lead us to not take off our flight from the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/oh-foolish-desires-of-mortals-how-weak-are-the-reasons-that-lead-us/) [Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/) > [“On march the banners of the King of Hell.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/on-march-the-banners-of-the-king-of-hell/) [Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/) > [Seldom indeed does human virtue rise From trunk to branch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/seldom-indeed-does-human-virtue-rise-from-trunk-to-branch/) [Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/) > [All hope abandon, ye who enter here!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/all-hope-abandon-ye-who-enter-here/) [Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/) > [We have no hope and yet we live in longing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/we-have-no-hope-and-yet-we-live-in-longing/) [Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/) > [Not one drop of blood is left inside my veins that does not throb: I recognize signs of the ancient flame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/not-one-drop-of-blood-is-left-inside-my-veins-that-does-not-throb-i/) [Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/) > [It is necessity and not pleasure that compels us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/it-is-necessity-and-not-pleasure-that-compels-us/) [Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/) [Explore all 414 Dante Alighieri quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/) ## More Indecision quotes > [Making the right decision is hard,telling someone your decision is even harder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/making-the-right-decision-is-hard-telling-someone-your-decision-is/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) > [Indecision becomes decision with time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/indecision-becomes-decision-with-time/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Follow your heart, but don't leave your brain behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-van-zyl/follow-your-heart-but-don-t-leave-your-brain-behind/) [Matthew Van Zyl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-van-zyl/) > [ “And while \[we\] do have possibilities that are vast and magnificent and almost infinite in scope, it's important to remember that our choice-rich lives… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/and-while-we-do-have-possibilities-that-are-vast-and-magnificent-and/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [ \[On being indecisive and changeable:\] On my gravestone I want inscribed: 'On the other hand, maybe I should have lived. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-walters/on-being-indecisive-and-changeable-on-my-gravestone-i-want-inscribed/) [Barbara Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-walters/) > [The only thing we don't do together is get in front of an actor and show any indecision at all about what we think.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-farrelly/the-only-thing-we-don-t-do-together-is-get-in-front-of-an-actor-and/) [Bobby Farrelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-farrelly/) > [Indecision is a decision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/indecision-is-a-decision/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The past tense of regret is indecision.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/welcome-to-nightvale-podcast/the-past-tense-of-regret-is-indecision/) Welcome to Nightvale Podcast > [“To him, a stilted geometric love of arrangement was “system,” and indefatigable and feverish interest in the pettiest facets of day-to-day bureaucracy was “industry”,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/to-him-a-stilted-geometric-love-of-arrangement-was-system-and/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [Luckily, even as a young man not yet become himself, John Bridgens had two things besides indecision that kept him from self-destruction - books…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/luckily-even-as-a-young-man-not-yet-become-himself-john-bridgens-had/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [“Sounds like a great place to get killed. Hard pass.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackson-lanzing/sounds-like-a-great-place-to-get-killed-hard-pass/) [Jackson Lanzing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackson-lanzing/) > [Indecision is the most unsexy thing on the planet. I dont know if Im sexy but I think decisiveness is sexy. I also lose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-barrymore/indecision-is-the-most-unsexy-thing-on-the-planet-i-dont-know-if-im/) [Drew Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-barrymore/) > [“Fear, indecision, not knowing—these are the obstacles that keep you from moving forward. And they never go away. But if you are going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-goins/fear-indecision-not-knowing-these-are-the-obstacles-that-keep-you/) [Jeff Goins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-goins/) > [“ 'We cannot decide,' the Witness for the Treasury said. 'We are sorry, but it is the truth.' 'May we suggest that indecisiveness is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-addison/we-cannot-decide-the-witness-for-the-treasury-said-we-are-sorry-but/) [Katherine Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-addison/) > [“Was it a moment of indecision or was it a moment of redemption. Redemption long overdue and long unacknowledged? They didn’t know. He suddenly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vinod-pande/was-it-a-moment-of-indecision-or-was-it-a-moment-of-redemption/) [Vinod Pande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vinod-pande/) [Browse all 266 Indecision quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indecision/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“And I — my head oppressed by horror — said: \"Master, what is it that I hear? Who are those people so defeated by their pain?\" And he to me: \"This miserable way is taken by the sorry souls of those who lived without disgrace and without praise. 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