“If the present world go astray, the cause is in you, in you it is to be sought.”
- c. 1265 – September 14, 1321
- Italian
- Poet, Writer, Philosopher, Author of The Divine Comedy
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Quote
“If the present world go astray, the cause is in you, in you it is to be sought.”
Explanation
This quote is drawn from Dante Alighieri’s Paradiso, Canto XVI, where his ancestor, Cacciaguida, speaks to him. The original Italian reads: “Se mala cupidigia altro vi grida, / uomini siate, e non pecore matte, / sì che ‘l Giudeo di voi tra voi non rida!” though the quote as rendered above is a faithful and accepted translation of the broader sentiment: that the world’s disorder stems from human failings, not divine will.
Dante here conveys a profound moral assertion: that the responsibility for the corruption, injustice, and suffering in the world lies with humanity itself. This reflects the poet’s political and spiritual philosophy, shaped by the turmoil of 14th-century Florence—riddled with factional violence, greed, and betrayal. Dante believed that human freedom and moral choice are essential, and when people abandon virtue, the world naturally decays. He challenges the reader to look inward, rather than blame fate, fortune, or God.
In today’s world, the quote retains sharp relevance. From climate change and war to inequality and political dysfunction, many of our crises are not accidental—they result from human decisions, systems, and values. Dante’s words urge us to accept accountability, to recognize that change begins with us, and that the solutions to modern problems lie not in resignation, but in moral courage and collective responsibility.
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