QuoteProject
It is easy to go down into Hell; night and day, the gates of dark Death stand wide; but to climb back again, to retrace one's steps to the upper air - there's the rub, the task.
Virgil
ShareWTF𝕏

Interpretation

What this quote means

Resilience is challenging; it’s easy to succumb to despair, but difficult to overcome it.

This quote by Virgil emphasizes the difficulty of overcoming adversity and returning to a state of hope and light after experiencing hardship. While it may be easy to fall into despair or dangerous situations, the true challenge lies in the strength and courage it takes to rise above and find a way back to positivity and life.

Themes

ResilienceAdversityCourageOvercomingStruggle

In practice

Example use cases

In a motivational speech about overcoming addiction, this quote can illustrate the challenges of recovery.

More from Virgil

Hug the shore; let others try the deep.
VirgilRead
Even virtue is fairer when it appears in a beautiful person.
VirgilRead
Happy the man who has been able to learn the causes of things.
VirgilRead
Endure the present, and watch for better things.
VirgilRead
Come what may, all bad fortune is to be conquered by endurance.
VirgilRead
Fear is proof of a degenerate mind.
VirgilRead

Similar quotes

People respond differently to people who are grieving. They reach out. But depression is so very isolating. It's hard to explain to anyone who has never been depressed how isolating it is. Grief comes and goes, but depression is unremitting.
Kay Redfield JamisonRead
I have always hated slavery, I think, as much as any abolitionist. I have been an Old Line Whig. I have always hated it, but I have always been quiet about it until this new era of the introduction of the Nebraska Bill began.
Abraham LincolnRead
Do what is necessary to be resilient. You will get knocked down. What matters is that you get back up.
Hillary ClintonRead
Three millions of people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us. Beside, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of Nations, and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us.
Patrick HenryRead
True charity requires courage: Let us overcome the fear of getting our hands dirty so as to help those in need.
Pope FrancisRead
I don't want to hurt myself. I want to stop hurting.
David Foster WallaceRead

A little wisdom, now and then

Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.

Quote by Virgil | QuoteProject