John Milton Quotes
Virtue, which breaks through opposition and all temptation can remove, most shines, and most is acceptable above.
The earth, though in comparison of heaven so small, nor glistering, may of solid good contain more plenty than the sun, that barren shines.
'Paradise Lost' is one of the books which the reader admires and lays down, and forgets to take up again. None ever wished it longer than it is.
Beholding the bright countenance of truth in the quiet and still air of delightful studies.
Evil into the mind of god or man may come and go, so unapproved, and leave no spot or blame behind.
Who can in reason then or right assume monarchy over such as live by right his equals, if in power or splendor less, in freedom equal?
Fame is the spur that the clear spirit doth raise. That last infirmity of noble mind. To scorn delights, and live laborious days.
He who tempts, though in vain, at last asperses The tempted with dishonor foul, supposed Not incorruptible of faith, not proof Against temptation.
O'er many a frozen, many a fiery Alp, Rocks, caves, lakes, fens, bogs, dens, and shades of death.
And in their motions harmony divine So smoothes her charming tones, that God's own ear Listens delighted.
Servant of God, well done! well hast thou fought The better fight, who single hast maintain'd Against revolted multitudes the cause of truth.
. . . for beauty stands In the admiration only of weak minds Led captive. Cease to admire, and all her plumes Fall flat and shrink into a trivial toy, At every sudden slighting quite abash'd.
Extol not riches then, the toil of fools, The wise man's cumbrance, if not snare, more apt To slacken virtue, and abate her edge, Than prompt her to do aught may merit praise.
How sweetly did they float upon the wings Of silence through the empty-vaulted night, At every fall smoothing the raven down Of darkness till it smiled!
The olive grove of Academe, Plato's retirement, where the Attic bird Trills her thick-warbled notes the summer long.
O nightingale, that on yon bloomy spray Warblest at eve, when all the woods are still; Thou with fresh hope the lover's heart dost fill While the jolly hours lead on propitious May.
Take heed lest passion sway Thy judgement to do aught, which else free will Would not admit.
If we think we regulate printing, thereby to rectify manners, we must regulate all regulations and pastimes, all that is delightful to man.
For such kind of borrowing as this, if it be not bettered by the borrowers, among good authors is accounted Plagiarè.
The bird of Jove, stoop'd from his aery tour, Two birds of gayest plume before him drove.
Let none henceforth seek needless cause to approve The faith they owe; when earnestly they seek Such proof, conclude, they then begin to fail.
He who would not be frustrate of his hope to write well hereafter in laudable things ought himself to be a true poem.
Capricious, wanton, bold, and brutal Lust Is meanly selfish; when resisted, cruel; And, like the blast of Pestilential Winds, Taints the sweet bloom of Nature's fairest forms.
Fame, if not double fac'd, is double mouth'd, And with contrary blast proclaims most deeds; On both his wings, one black, the other white, Bears greatest names in his wild aery flight.
Thence to the famous orators repair, Those ancient, whose resistless eloquence Wielded at will that fierce democratie, Shook the arsenal, and fulmin'd over Greece, To Macedon, and Artaxerxes' throne.
Thus Belial, with words clothed in reason's garb, counseled ignoble ease, and peaceful sloth, not peace.
His spear, to equal which the tallest pine Hewn on Norwegian hills to be the mast Of some great ammiral were but a wand, He walk'd with to support uneasy steps Over the burning marle.
What if Earth be but the shadow of Heaven and things therein - each other like, more than on Earth is thought?
What call thou solitude? Is not the earth with various living creatures, and the air replenished, and all these at thy command to come and play before thee?
Well observe The rule of Not too much, by temperance taught In what thou eat'st and drink'st.
Nor aught availed him now to have built in heaven high towers; nor did he scrape by all his engines, but was headlong sent with his industrious crew to build in hell.
Thrones, dominions, princedoms, virtues, powers-- If these magnific titles yet remain Not merely titular.
