Midway through life, I found myself in a dark wood.

What it means

The most famous opening in Italian begins with a man who has lost his way. Getting lost in the middle of life is common and survivable. Admitting you are in the dark wood is how the journey starts.

The source

"Midway through life, I found myself in a dark wood." Dante said it in Inferno 1.1-3. Translated from the original Italian by Spartan Surfers.

"Nel mezzo del cammin di nostra vita mi ritrovai per una selva oscura, ché la diritta via era smarrita."

Original Italian, Inferno 1.1-3. 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 "Midway through life, I found myself in a dark wood." mean?

The most famous opening in Italian begins with a man who has lost his way. Getting lost in the middle of life is common and survivable. Admitting you are in the dark wood is how the journey starts.

Who said "Midway through life, I found myself in a dark wood."?

Dante (1265–1321). Source: Inferno 1.1-3.

What is the original Italian?

Nel mezzo del cammin di nostra vita mi ritrovai per una selva oscura, ché la diritta via era smarrita. Translated from the original Italian by Spartan Surfers.

Is "Midway through life, I found myself in a dark wood." on a shirt?

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

"Midway through life, I found myself in a dark wood." (Dante, Inferno 1.1-3, translated by Spartan Surfers). https://spartansurfers.com/quotes/midway-through-life-i-found-myself-in-a