--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are souls beneath that water. Fixed…" description: "\"“There are souls beneath that water. Fixed in slime they speak their piece, end it, and start again: 'Sullen were we in the air made sweet by the Sun; ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13f/dante-alighieri-590_dante-alighieri_there-are-souls-beneath-that-water-fixed_983718.jpg" --- # There are souls beneath that water. Fixed in slime they… ![“There are souls beneath that water. Fixed in slime they speak their piece, end it, and start again: 'Sullen were we in the air made sweet by the Sun; in the glory of his shining our hearts poured a bitter smoke. Sullen were we begun; sullen we lie forever in this ditch.' This litany they gargle in…” quote by Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13f/dante-alighieri-590_dante-alighieri_there-are-souls-beneath-that-water-fixed_983718.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13f/dante-alighieri-590_dante-alighieri_there-are-souls-beneath-that-water-fixed_983718.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13f/dante-alighieri-590_dante-alighieri_there-are-souls-beneath-that-water-fixed_983718.jpg) > ““There are souls beneath that water. Fixed in slime they speak their piece, end it, and start again: 'Sullen were we in the air made sweet by the Sun; in the glory of his shining our hearts poured a bitter smoke. Sullen were we begun; sullen we lie forever in this ditch.' This litany they gargle in their throats as if they sand, but lacked the words and pitch.”” [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 trapped in a stagnant, cyclical existence, unable to articulate their suffering, repeating a mournful chant. **In simple terms:** Souls stuck in endless, mute suffering. Key Takeaway Recognize and break cycles of unspoken pain. Themes suffering stagnation repetition Mood somber introspective Type poetic philosophical When to use this quote - personal trauma - addiction recovery - grief counseling - spiritual practice Key Concepts Existential despair communication failure Questions to Reflect On - What cycles in your life feel endless? - How can you find a voice to break them? A Different Perspective The imagery may romanticize suffering, overlooking agency for change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dante-alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dante-alighieri-2/) [Divine comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divine-comedy/) [Inferno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inferno/) [Souls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/souls/) ## Related quotes > [There are souls beneath that water. Fixed in slimethey speak their piece, end it, and start again:'Sullen were we in the air made sweet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/there-are-souls-beneath-that-water-fixed-in-slimethey-speak-their/) [Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/) > [“No, never mind, I didn't think so. Mead, Dante's theme is man-not a man.' 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Through me is the way to sorrow eternal. Through me is the way to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/through-me-is-the-way-to-the-city-of-woe-through-me-is-the-way-to/) [Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/) > [“There is no greater sorrow than thinking back upon a happy time in misery--”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/there-is-no-greater-sorrow-than-thinking-back-upon-a-happy-time-in/) [Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/) > [When I had journeyed half of our life's way, I found myself within a shadowed forest, for I had lost the path that does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/when-i-had-journeyed-half-of-our-life-s-way-i-found-myself-within-a/) [Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/) > [Through me the way into the suffering city, Through me the way to the eternal pain, Through me the way that runs among the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/through-me-the-way-into-the-suffering-city-through-me-the-way-to-the/) [Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/) > [Midway upon the journey of our life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/midway-upon-the-journey-of-our-life/) [Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/) > [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/) > [I saw within Its depth how It conceives All things in a single volume bound by Love of which the universe is the scattered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/i-saw-within-its-depth-how-it-conceives-all-things-in-a-single-volume/) [Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/) > [“Dante is the first Christian poet, the first one whose whole system of thought is colored by a pure Christian theology. But the poem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-pearl/dante-is-the-first-christian-poet-the-first-one-whose-whole-system-of/) [Matthew Pearl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-pearl/) > [“Inferno was for learning about the nature of our sins. Purgatorio is for learning how to overcome our tendencies to fall victim to them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-dreher/inferno-was-for-learning-about-the-nature-of-our-sins-purgatorio-is/) [Rod Dreher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-dreher/) > [“What about the motorcycle parts?" "Those belong to my sort-of boyfriend. He's in Italy right now, visiting his family, and I like to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kat-richardson/what-about-the-motorcycle-parts-those-belong-to-my-sort-of-boyfriend/) [Kat Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kat-richardson/) ## 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 Dante-alighieri quotes > [“What about the motorcycle parts?" "Those belong to my sort-of boyfriend. He's in Italy right now, visiting his family, and I like to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kat-richardson/what-about-the-motorcycle-parts-those-belong-to-my-sort-of-boyfriend/) [Kat Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kat-richardson/) > [“Inferno was for learning about the nature of our sins. Purgatorio is for learning how to overcome our tendencies to fall victim to them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-dreher/inferno-was-for-learning-about-the-nature-of-our-sins-purgatorio-is/) [Rod Dreher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-dreher/) > [“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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-pearl/no-never-mind-i-didn-t-think-so-mead-dante-s-theme-is-man-not-a-man/) [Matthew Pearl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-pearl/) > [“Dante is the first Christian poet, the first one whose whole system of thought is colored by a pure Christian theology. But the poem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-pearl/dante-is-the-first-christian-poet-the-first-one-whose-whole-system-of/) [Matthew Pearl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-pearl/) > [“There is no greater sorrow than thinking back upon a happy time in misery--”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/there-is-no-greater-sorrow-than-thinking-back-upon-a-happy-time-in/) [Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/) > [ “...\[T\]he three greatest works are those of Homer , Dante and Shakespeare . These are closely followed by the works of Virgil and Milton .” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-devlin/t-he-three-greatest-works-are-those-of-homer-dante-and-shakespeare/) [Joseph Devlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-devlin/) > [“Through me is the way to the city of woe. Through me is the way to sorrow eternal. Through me is the way to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/through-me-is-the-way-to-the-city-of-woe-through-me-is-the-way-to/) [Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/) > [“Lo giorno se n'andava" - Day was departing..." Dante slows his deliberation as he prepares to enter the infernal realms for the first time:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-pearl/lo-giorno-se-n-andava-day-was-departing-dante-slows-his-deliberation/) [Matthew Pearl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-pearl/) > [“Ecce deus fortior me, qui veniens dominabitur michi.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/ecce-deus-fortior-me-qui-veniens-dominabitur-michi/) [Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/) > [“Milton was the gold standard of religious poets for English and American scholars. But Milton wrote of Hell and Heaven from above and below,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-pearl/milton-was-the-gold-standard-of-religious-poets-for-english-and/) [Matthew Pearl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-pearl/) > [“your soul has been assailed by cowardice, which often weighs so heavily on a man-- distracting him from honorable trials-- as phantoms frighten beasts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/your-soul-has-been-assailed-by-cowardice-which-often-weighs-so/) [Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/) > [“Pape Satan, Pape Satan, Aleppe!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/pape-satan-pape-satan-aleppe/) [Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/) [Browse all 13 Dante-alighieri quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dante-alighieri-2/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“There are souls beneath that water. 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