Quotes from John Milton

Some natural tears they dropt, but wiped them soon; The world was all before them, where to choose Their place of rest, and Providence their guide: They, hand in hand, with wandering steps and slow, Through Eden took their solitary way.

The goal of all learning is to repair the ruin of our first parents.

few sometimes may know, when thousands err

ALL WHO HAVE THEIR REWARD ON EARTH, THE FRUITS OF PAINFUL SUPERSTITION AND BLIND ZEAL, NOUGHT SEEKING BUT THE PRAISE OF MEN, HERE FIND FIT RETRIBUTION, EMPTY AS THEIR DEED

To morrow to fresh Woods, and Pastures new.

Such I created all th' Ethereal Powers And Spirits, both them who stood & them who faild; Freely they stood who stood, and fell who fell. Not

high words, that bore Semblance of worth not substance, gently

Nor was his name unheard or unador'd In ancient Greece; and in Ausonian land Men call'd him Mulciber; and how he fell From Heav'n, they fabl'd, thrown by angry Jove Sheer o're the Chrystal Battlements: from Morn To Noon he fell, from Noon to dewy Eve, A Summers day; and with the setting Sun Dropt from the Zenith like a falling Star, On Lemnos th' Ægean Ile: thus they relate, Erring...

The Tempter ere th' Accuser of man-kind, To wreck on innocent frail man his loss Of that first Battel, and his flight to Hell: Yet

And from these corporal nutriments perhaps   Your bodies may at last turn all to Spirit   Improv'd by tract of time, and wingd ascend   Ethereal, as wee, or may at choice   Here or in Heav'nly Paradises dwell;

Act of Grace my former state; how soon Would highth recal high thoughts, how soon unsay What feign'd submission swore: ease would recant Vows made in pain, as violent and void. For never can true reconcilement grow Where wounds of deadly hate have peirc'd so deep: Which

Then to submit, boasting I could subdue Th' Omnipotent. Ay me, they little know How dearly I abide that boast so vaine, Under what torments inwardly I groane; While they adore me on the Throne of Hell, With

Truth and understanding are not such wares as to be monopolized and traded in by tickets and statutes and standards.

Thus while he spake, each passion dimm'd his face   Thrice chang'd with pale, ire, envie and despair,   Which marrd his borrow'd visage, and betraid   Him counterfet, if any eye beheld.

Doth God exact day-labor, light denied,' I fondly ask; but patience to prevent That murmur, soon replies, 'God doth not need Either man's work or his own gifts, who best Bear His mild yoke, they serve Him best, his state Is kingly. Thousands at His bidding speed And post o'er land and ocean without rest: They also serve who only stand and wait.' ~Sonnet 19: On His Blindness (1655)~

Of Man's first disobedience, and the fruit

Or bid the soul of Orpheus sing Such notes as warbled to the string, Drew Iron tears down Pluto's cheek, And made Hell grant what Love did seek.

If we think to regulat Printing, thereby to rectifie manners, we must regulat all recreations and pastimes, all that is delightfull to Man.

know, that so far to distrust' the judgement and the honesty of one who hath but a common repute in Learning and never yet offended, as not to count him fit to print his mind without a tutor and examiner lest he should drop a schism or something of corruption, is the greatest displeasure and indignity to a free and knowing spirit that can be put upon him.

And what doe they tell us vainly of new opinions, when this very opinion of theirs, that none must be heard but whom they like, is the worst and newest opinion of all others, and is the chief cause why sects and schisms doe so much abound and true knowledge is kept at distance from us ; besides yet a greater danger which is in it.

Hell's dread Emperor

Numerous, and every Starr perhaps a World   Of destind habitation; but

Soft words to his fierce passion she assayed

The griding sword with discontinuous wound   Pass'd through him, but th' Ethereal substance clos'd   Not long divisible, and from the gash   A stream of Nectarous humor issuing flow'd   Sanguin, such as Celestial Spirits may bleed,   And all his Armour staind ere while so bright.