“The more perfect a thing is, the more susceptible to good and bad treatment it is.”
- c. 1265 – September 14, 1321
- Italian
- Poet, Writer, Philosopher, Author of The Divine Comedy
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Quote
“The more perfect a thing is, the more susceptible to good and bad treatment it is.”
Explanation
This quote comes from Dante Alighieri’s Paradiso, Canto I, where he reflects on the nature of perfection and its vulnerability. The original idea is expressed in Italian as: “Quanto più è perfetto, più è suscettibile al bene e al male.” Dante is conveying a philosophical truth rooted in medieval scholasticism—that the more refined or elevated a being or thing is, the more profoundly it can be affected by external influences, both positive and negative.
In Dante’s cosmology, this concept applies especially to the human soul, which is considered the most noble of earthly creations because of its capacity for reason and divine love. However, this very capacity also makes it more vulnerable to corruption. A creature of greater moral or intellectual potential can fall more tragically than a simpler one, and likewise can achieve higher spiritual heights. Dante’s line reflects a moral duality: that perfection increases not immunity, but sensitivity to both glory and ruin.
In modern terms, this insight still holds true. Consider how a brilliant mind can be used for great discovery—or for manipulation. Or how deep emotional sensitivity, while enabling great love and empathy, also opens one to deep hurt. Dante reminds us that with greater potential comes greater responsibility and exposure. The quote is a timeless reflection on human fragility, urging us to protect and nurture what is most excellent in ourselves and others.
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