“Heaven wheels above you, displaying to you her eternal glories, and still your eyes are on the ground.”
- c. 1265 – September 14, 1321
- Italian
- Poet, Writer, Philosopher, Author of The Divine Comedy
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Quote
“Heaven wheels above you, displaying to you her eternal glories, and still your eyes are on the ground.”
Explanation
This quote is drawn from Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy, specifically from Paradiso, Canto XIV, and is often cited in paraphrased or modernized form. The original Italian, likely derived from passages where Dante contemplates the sublime harmony and majesty of the heavens, reflects his theme that humans are too often distracted by earthly concerns, ignoring the divine order and eternal beauty that surrounds them.
Dante uses the cosmic movement of the heavens—“Heaven wheels above you”—as a metaphor for the divine structure of the universe, governed by love, wisdom, and purpose. The phrase critiques those who, despite being surrounded by this celestial grandeur, remain fixated on worldly matters, their “eyes on the ground.” This reflects Dante’s broader philosophical and theological view that the human soul is meant to ascend, and that a failure to lift one’s gaze reflects spiritual ignorance or moral inertia.
In the modern world, this quote resonates with the tension between materialism and transcendence. Surrounded by beauty, truth, and potential—whether in nature, art, or human relationships—many still remain absorbed in superficial distractions. Dante’s words challenge us to elevate our focus, to seek meaning beyond the mundane, and to remember that our higher purpose lies not in what is below, but in aspiring toward the eternal.
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