Who said "Follow me and let people talk. Stand like a tower."?

Dante (1265–1321). Source: Purgatorio 5.13-15.

Is "Follow me and let people talk. Stand like a tower." on a shirt?

Yes. We print it to order on our tees in 7 illustrated looks, from $44, with free US shipping.

Follow me and let people talk. Stand like a tower.

Dante, Purgatorio 5.13-15

What it means

Dante slows down because souls are whispering about him, and Virgil tells him to keep walking. A tower does not shake its top because the wind blows. Gossip is weather; keep your direction.

The source

"Follow me and let people talk. Stand like a tower." Dante said it in Purgatorio 5.13-15. Translated from the original Italian by Spartan Surfers.

"Vien dietro a me, e lascia dir le genti: sta come torre ferma, che non crolla già mai la cima per soffiar di venti"

Original Italian, Purgatorio 5.13-15. Text read at gutenberg.org.

Who said it

Dante (1265–1321). Florentine poet who wrote the Divine Comedy in exile, a journey from the dark wood through Hell and up to the stars.

Questions

What does "Follow me and let people talk. Stand like a tower." mean?: Dante slows down because souls are whispering about him, and Virgil tells him to keep walking. A tower does not shake its top because the wind blows. Gossip is weather; keep your direction.
Who said "Follow me and let people talk. Stand like a tower."?: Dante (1265–1321). Source: Purgatorio 5.13-15.
What is the original Italian?: Vien dietro a me, e lascia dir le genti: sta come torre ferma, che non crolla già mai la cima per soffiar di venti. Translated from the original Italian by Spartan Surfers.
Is "Follow me and let people talk. Stand like a tower." on a shirt?: Yes. We print it to order on our tees in 7 illustrated looks, from $44, with free US shipping.

Cite this line

"Follow me and let people talk. Stand like a tower." (Dante, Purgatorio 5.13-15, translated by Spartan Surfers). https://spartansurfers.com/quotes/follow-me-and-let-people-talk-stand-like