--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The gates of Hell are open night and day…" description: "\"The gates of Hell are open night and day; smooth the descent, and easy is the way: but, to return, and view the cheerful skies; in this, the task and m..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99e/virgil-1205_auras_the-gates-of-hell-are-open-night-and-day_1663408.jpg" --- # The gates of Hell are open night and day; smooth the… ![“The gates of Hell are open night and day; smooth the descent, and easy is the way: but, to return, and view the cheerful skies; in this, the task and mighty labor lies.” quote by Virgil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99e/virgil-1205_auras_the-gates-of-hell-are-open-night-and-day_1663408.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99e/virgil-1205_auras_the-gates-of-hell-are-open-night-and-day_1663408.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99e/virgil-1205_auras_the-gates-of-hell-are-open-night-and-day_1663408.jpg) > “The gates of Hell are open night and day; smooth the descent, and easy is the way: but, to return, and view the cheerful skies; in this, the task and mighty labor lies.” [Virgil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virgil/) ## 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 contrasts the ease of descending into hell with the difficulty of returning to heavenly skies, emphasizing the arduous effort required for redemption. **In simple terms:** Returning to goodness is harder than falling into evil. Key Takeaway Recognize the effort needed for moral recovery. Themes redemption struggle morality afterlife effort Mood reflective serious motivational Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - personal crisis - ethical decision-making - spiritual reflection - overcoming temptation Key Concepts spiritual journey ethical choice Questions to Reflect On - What steps can you take to move from a low point toward improvement? - How does recognizing difficulty affect your commitment to change? A Different Perspective Redemption may be impossible for some. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Auras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/auras/) [Cheerful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cheerful/) [Descent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/descent/) [Gates of hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gates-of-hell/) [Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hell/) [Labor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labor/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/night/) [Sky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sky/) ## Related quotes > [“The gates of Hell are open night and day; smooth the descent and easy is the way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publius-vergilius-maro/the-gates-of-hell-are-open-night-and-day-smooth-the-descent-and-easy/) Publius Vergilius Maro > [If I saw the gates of hell open and I stood on the brink of the abyss, I would not despair; I would not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gemma-galgani/if-i-saw-the-gates-of-hell-open-and-i-stood-on-the-brink-of-the-abyss/) [Gemma Galgani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gemma-galgani/) > [Hateful to me as are the gates of hell, Is he who, hiding one thing in his heart, Utters another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/hateful-to-me-as-are-the-gates-of-hell-is-he-who-hiding-one-thing-in/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [“Well I won't back down No I won't back down You can stand me up at the gates of hell But I won't back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-petty/well-i-won-t-back-down-no-i-won-t-back-down-you-can-stand-me-up-at/) [Tom Petty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-petty/) > [“We can throw all the money we want at the gates of hell, not going to make a dent. The solutions to all of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lai/we-can-throw-all-the-money-we-want-at-the-gates-of-hell-not-going-to/) Patrick Lai > [“If only there was something to trade, someone to trade with; Cass would rip her soul from her body and hand it to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-littlefield/if-only-there-was-something-to-trade-someone-to-trade-with-cass-would/) [Sophie Littlefield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-littlefield/) > [You can stand me up at the gates of hell, but I won't back down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-petty/you-can-stand-me-up-at-the-gates-of-hell-but-i-won-t-back-down/) [Tom Petty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-petty/) > [The gates of hell will not be able to withstand these people! They are people who will build a new prototype for today, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-pierce/the-gates-of-hell-will-not-be-able-to-withstand-these-people-they-are/) [Chuck Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-pierce/) > [The Gates of Hell is where I am destined, to speak to the angel of death, where the oils of death are christened, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elias-atienza/the-gates-of-hell-is-where-i-am-destined-to-speak-to-the-angel-of/) [Elias Atienza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elias-atienza/) > [I will follow Osama bin Laden to the gates of hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/i-will-follow-osama-bin-laden-to-the-gates-of-hell/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [“To every man is given the key to the gates of heaven. The same key opens the gates of hell. And so it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-feynman/to-every-man-is-given-the-key-to-the-gates-of-heaven-the-same-key/) [Richard Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-feynman/) > [The Gates of Hell shall not prevail against it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-rush/the-gates-of-hell-shall-not-prevail-against-it/) [Benjamin Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-rush/) > [He didn't have to say it loud. He didn't have to scream but every single word that. He says makes demons flee! I've got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zion-y-lennox/he-didn-t-have-to-say-it-loud-he-didn-t-have-to-scream-but-every/) [Zion Y Lennox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zion-y-lennox/) > [The most he would do was to promise that the gates of hell should not prevail against it. It is about all that, looking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-williams/the-most-he-would-do-was-to-promise-that-the-gates-of-hell-should-not/) [Charles Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-williams/) > [Before the gates of Hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-veil-brides/before-the-gates-of-hell/) [Black Veil Brides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-veil-brides/) ## More by Virgil > [We may be masters of our every lot By bearing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virgil/we-may-be-masters-of-our-every-lot-by-bearing-it/) [Virgil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virgil/) > [“Facilis descensus Averni: noctes atque dies patet atri ianua Ditis; sed revocare gradium superasque evadere ad auras. hoc opus, hic labor est.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virgil/facilis-descensus-averni-noctes-atque-dies-patet-atri-ianua-ditis-sed/) [Virgil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virgil/) > [The descent to the infernal regions is easy enough, but to retrace one's steps, and reach the air above, there's the rub.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virgil/the-descent-to-the-infernal-regions-is-easy-enough-but-to-retrace-one/) [Virgil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virgil/) > [If I am unable to make the gods above relent, I shall move hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virgil/if-i-am-unable-to-make-the-gods-above-relent-i-shall-move-hell/) [Virgil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virgil/) > [Such is the love of praise, so great the anxiety for victory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virgil/such-is-the-love-of-praise-so-great-the-anxiety-for-victory/) [Virgil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virgil/) > [“Spare the meek, but subdue the arrogant.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virgil/spare-the-meek-but-subdue-the-arrogant/) [Virgil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virgil/) > [We have to thank God for this retirement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virgil/we-have-to-thank-god-for-this-retirement/) [Virgil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virgil/) > [“..and why the winter suns so rush to bathe themselves in the sea and what slows down the nights to a long lingering crawl...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virgil/and-why-the-winter-suns-so-rush-to-bathe-themselves-in-the-sea-and/) [Virgil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virgil/) > [“forsan et haec olim meminisse iuvabit. and perhaps it will be pleasing to have remembered these things one day”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virgil/forsan-et-haec-olim-meminisse-iuvabit-and-perhaps-it-will-be-pleasing/) [Virgil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virgil/) > [“Timeo Danaos et dona ferentes”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virgil/timeo-danaos-et-dona-ferentes/) [Virgil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virgil/) > [The Britons are quite separated from all the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virgil/the-britons-are-quite-separated-from-all-the-world/) [Virgil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virgil/) > [One man excels in eloquence, another in arms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virgil/one-man-excels-in-eloquence-another-in-arms/) [Virgil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virgil/) > [“But the Danaan princes and Agamemnon’s battalions, soon as they saw the man and his arms flashing amid the glom, trembled with mighty fear;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virgil/but-the-danaan-princes-and-agamemnon-s-battalions-soon-as-they-saw/) [Virgil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virgil/) > [“What a tale he's told, what a bitter bowl of war he's drunk to the dregs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virgil/what-a-tale-he-s-told-what-a-bitter-bowl-of-war-he-s-drunk-to-the/) [Virgil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virgil/) > [“Non ignora mali, miseris succurrere disco.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virgil/non-ignora-mali-miseris-succurrere-disco/) [Virgil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virgil/) [Explore all 273 Virgil quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virgil/) ## More Auras quotes > [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [The sun, a red wheel, was sinking slowly in the west. Besides being spectacularly beautiful, the early-summer sunset was exceedingly soft and gentle: black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-yan/the-sun-a-red-wheel-was-sinking-slowly-in-the-west-besides-being/) [Mo Yan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-yan/) > [When you smile and project an aura of warmth, kindness, and friendliness, you will attract warms, kindness, and friendliness. Happy people will be drawn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/when-you-smile-and-project-an-aura-of-warmth-kindness-and/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [Who do you think of first in the morning? Good manipulators do it in the dream plane. The morning practice of meditation increases the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/who-do-you-think-of-first-in-the-morning-good-manipulators-do-it-in/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [The wild black scavengers of the skies laid their eggs in season and lovingly fed their young. They soared high over prairies and mountains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-m-miller-jr-2/the-wild-black-scavengers-of-the-skies-laid-their-eggs-in-season-and/) [Walter M. Miller, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-m-miller-jr-2/) > [“I see the glow before I see her. 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And his family, too, it's like, they are going through all this suffering,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/he-ryan-white-had-a-kind-of-angelic-aura-about-him-and-his-family-too/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [You have to defeat a great players aura more than his game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-riley/you-have-to-defeat-a-great-players-aura-more-than-his-game/) [Pat Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-riley/) > [“My physical eyes are like sunglasses, filtering out the colors, but when I'm out here, the aura that emanates from every living thing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-rosati/my-physical-eyes-are-like-sunglasses-filtering-out-the-colors-but/) Gina Rosati > [Speaking of opinions, the charming woman does not air hers very freely. The crude woman is eager to let you know what she thinks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margery-wilson/speaking-of-opinions-the-charming-woman-does-not-air-hers-very-freely/) [Margery Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margery-wilson/) > [Whatever is felt upon the page without being specifically named there - that, one might say, is created. It is the inexplicable presence of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willa-cather/whatever-is-felt-upon-the-page-without-being-specifically-named-there/) [Willa Cather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willa-cather/) > [That beautiful sister of mine was an overwhelming and volatile mixture. One had the feeling that she'd been shot from a canon and showered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-bennett/that-beautiful-sister-of-mine-was-an-overwhelming-and-volatile/) [Joan Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-bennett/) > [I am scared of my father to this day. 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