Lessons from Inferno Canto VI

At a buffet, you see people taking too much food and wasting it. In Inferno, gluttons are punished for overindulgence. What should you do at a buffet?

• Take only what you can finish, enjoying your meal in moderation.

• Keep eating even if you’re full—after all, it’s unlimited food.

• Waste food without concern, since you already paid for it.

• Challenge your friends to a food-eating contest for fun.

Answer explanation

The lesson from Inferno highlights the consequences of gluttony. Therefore, the best choice at a buffet is to take only what you can finish, enjoying your meal in moderation, to avoid waste and promote a healthier dining experience.

You’re visiting a city known for heavy rainfall. Unfortunately, you forgot your umbrella, and it starts pouring rain. You have two options: either get drenched and complain about the weather or accept help when a kind stranger offers to share their umbrella. In Inferno, the gluttons suffer under a never-ending, filthy rainstorm as a consequence of their wastefulness and selfish indulgence.

What is the best way to handle this situation while also learning from Inferno?

• Kindly accept the umbrella and remember to help others in the future.

• Ignore the rain—it’s just water, and you’ll dry off eventually.

• Decline the offer, then complain all day about how miserable you are.

• Take the umbrella but walk so fast that the stranger gets wet.

Answer explanation

Kindly accepting the umbrella shows gratitude and fosters kindness, aligning with the lesson from Inferno about the consequences of selfishness. It emphasizes the importance of helping others in the future.

Your friend recently got their first paycheck and immediately spent the entire amount on luxury clothes, expensive gadgets, and dining at fancy restaurants. A week later, they realize they have no money left for necessities like gas and groceries. They start complaining about being broke and ask to borrow money. This situation reminds you of the gluttons in Inferno, who indulged without thinking about long-term consequences and now suffer for eternity.

What lesson can your friend learn from Inferno?

• Budget wisely and save for important things first.

• Keep spending—money is meant to be enjoyed.

• Borrow from others whenever you run out of cash.

• Blame others for your financial struggles instead of fixing your habits.

Answer explanation

Your friend can learn to budget wisely and prioritize saving for necessities first, similar to the gluttons in Inferno who faced consequences for their indulgence. This approach helps avoid financial struggles.

Your neighbors throw wild parties every night, blasting music so loudly that you can’t sleep. You’re exhausted at school and your grades are suffering. You remember that in Inferno, the gluttons exist in a chaotic, disgusting storm, constantly tormented by the mess and noise that they created in life.

What is the best way to deal with this problem while also avoiding unnecessary conflict?

• Knock on their door and politely ask them to lower the volume.

• Blast your own speakers to compete with their noise.

• Do nothing—just suffer through it.

• Call the police immediately without trying to talk to them first.

Answer explanation

Knocking on their door and politely asking them to lower the volume is the best approach. It fosters communication and shows respect, potentially resolving the issue without escalating conflict.

You’re at the grocery store and see someone buying ten gallons of ice cream and stacks of candy bars. As they check out, they joke about how they always eat junk food but never feel healthy. You recall how the gluttons in Inferno suffer for their lack of self-control, trapped in a disgusting storm.

What advice would you give this person based on the lesson from Inferno?

• Enjoy treats but balance them with nutritious food.

• Eat as much junk food as possible—life is short!

• Ignore them; it’s their life.

• Buy only the same food as them so they don’t feel bad.

Answer explanation

The lesson from Inferno highlights the consequences of excess and lack of self-control. Advising to enjoy treats while balancing them with nutritious food promotes a healthier lifestyle, avoiding the fate of the gluttons.

Your best friend has developed a habit of watching TV shows and movies all day, every day. They rarely get homework done, never go outside, and often complain about feeling lazy and unmotivated. This reminds you of the gluttons in Inferno, who wasted their lives in indulgence and are now trapped in eternal suffering.

What lesson from Inferno applies here?

• Balance entertainment with productivity.

• Watch more shows with them—schoolwork can wait.

• Drop out of school and become a full-time streamer.

• Let them be; everyone has different priorities.

Answer explanation

The lesson from Inferno emphasizes the importance of balancing entertainment with productivity. Your friend's excessive TV watching mirrors the gluttons' indulgence, leading to a lack of motivation and unfulfilled potential.

One of your friends always borrows money, asks for help with schoolwork, and takes food from your lunch, but they never return the favor when you need help. In Inferno, selfishness and overindulgence led to punishment.

What is the best way to handle this situation?

• Have a respectful conversation about fairness and mutual support.

• Keep letting them take advantage of you to avoid conflict.

• Stop talking to them immediately without explanation.

• Start borrowing things from them without asking to get even.

Answer explanation

Having a respectful conversation about fairness promotes mutual support and addresses the imbalance in your friendship. This approach fosters understanding and can lead to a healthier relationship, unlike avoidance or retaliation.

A student signs up for every club, sport, and event but constantly complains about being stressed and exhausted. In Inferno, the gluttons suffer for indulging without considering the consequences.

What’s the best way for them to handle their schedule?

• Focus on a few activities they truly enjoy.

• Keep pushing through—everyone should be busy.

• Drop out of everything and do nothing instead.

• Ignore the stress; it will eventually go away.

Answer explanation

Focusing on a few activities they truly enjoy allows the student to manage their time better and reduce stress, similar to how the gluttons in Inferno suffer from overindulgence. Quality over quantity is key.

A student refuses to clean out their locker. It’s filled with old papers, snack wrappers, and broken pencils. Every time they need something, they waste time digging through the mess.

What lesson from Inferno applies?

• Stay organized to avoid unnecessary chaos.

• Keep hoarding—it’s just a locker.

• Blame the school for not providing bigger lockers.

• Just leave everything on the floor for someone else to clean.

Answer explanation

The lesson from Inferno emphasizes the importance of staying organized to prevent chaos. The student's messy locker leads to wasted time, illustrating that a lack of organization can create unnecessary difficulties.

A student spends hours scrolling through social media and then complains they don’t have enough time for homework.

What’s the best solution?

• Limit social media time and set priorities.

• Keep scrolling—it’s important to stay updated.

• Copy someone else’s homework.

• Complain about having too much work.

Answer explanation

Limiting social media time allows the student to focus on homework and manage their time better. Setting priorities helps ensure that important tasks are completed, addressing their complaint about not having enough time.