"Before a man bit into one of two
foods equally removed and tempting, he
would die of hunger if his choice were free;
so would a lamb stand motionless between
the cravings of two savage wolves, in fear
of both; so would a dog between two deer;
thus, I need neither blame nor praise myself
when both my doubts compelled me equally:
what kept me silent was necessity."
foods equally removed and tempting, he
would die of hunger if his choice were free;
so would a lamb stand motionless between
the cravings of two savage wolves, in fear
of both; so would a dog between two deer;
thus, I need neither blame nor praise myself
when both my doubts compelled me equally:
what kept me silent was necessity."
—Dante Alighieri, Paradiso Canto 4.1-7