Facilis descensus Averni: noctes atque dies patet atri ianua Ditis; sed revocare gradium superasque evadere ad auras. hoc opus, hic labor est.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- It is easy to descend into the underworld, but very difficult to return to the living world.
- In plain terms
- Going down is easy, but coming back up is hard.
- What can you take from it?
- Once you make a harmful choice, reversing it takes great effort.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What choices feel easy to make but hard to undo?
- How do you prevent a small step from becoming a fall?
Another view
Not all downward spirals are permanent or equally hard to reverse.
More from Virgil
Tu ne cede malis, sed contra audentior ito.
Permalink to quote #18 Quisque suos patimur Manes.
Permalink to quote #20 Possunt, quia posse videntur.
Permalink to quote #17
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