Ascending Quote by Michelangelo
“There is no tongue to speak his eulogy; Too brightly burned his splendour for our eyes: Far easier to condemn his injurers, Than for the tongue to reach his smallest worth. He to the realms of sinfulness came down, To teach mankind; ascending then to God, Heaven unbarred to him her lofty gates, To whom his country hers refused to ope. Ungrateful land, to its own injury Nurse of his fate! Well too does this instruct, That greatest ills fall to the perfectest. And 'midst a thousand proofs, let this suffice, That, as his exile had no parallel, So never was there man more great than he.”
About This Quote
Source Poem: Unknown, possibly a tribute to a fallen hero, date uncertain
The speaker laments that the hero’s greatness is beyond words, and that people condemn his enemies more easily than recognize his true worth, noting that even the best can fall
In simple terms: The hero’s deeds are too great to be fully praised, and people focus on his enemies instead
Key Takeaway
Remember the true value of great deeds and avoid quick condemnation
Themes
humility
legacy
misunderstanding
Mood
reflective
somber
Type
philosophical
poetic
When to use this quote
- historical commemoration
- teaching moral lessons
- public discourse
- celebrating achievements
Key Concepts
heroic sacrifice
human frailty
oral paradox
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we honor greatness without idolizing?
- What prevents us from seeing the full humanity of heroes?
A Different Perspective
Even the most perfect can err, and fame may obscure virtue
