Quotes from John Milton

But peaceful was the night Wherein the Prince of Light His reign of peace upon the earth began: The winds with wonder whist, Smoothly the waters kist, Whispering new joys to the mild Ocean, Who now hath quite forgot to rave, While birds of calm sit brooding on the charmed wave.

that rake through the entrails of many an old good author, with a violation worse than any could be offered to his tomb.

Who now is sovereign can dispose and bid What shall be right: farthest from him is best

Freely we serve, because we freely love, as in our will to love or not; in this we stand or fall

Thus they in mutual accusation spent The fruitless hours, but neither self—condemning; And of their vain contest' appeared no end. (The closing lines of Book Nine, which illuminates The Fall.)

For kunnskap er som mat, og måtehold må til så man kun inntar slikt et mål som sinnet lett kan romme, overflod er byrdefullt, og vender visdom snart til dårskap, slik som næring blir til vind.

The lonely mountains o'er, And the resounding shore, A voice of weeping heard and loud lament; From haunted spring, and dale Edged with poplar pale, The parting Genius is with sighing sent; With flower-inwoven tresses torn The Nymphs in twilight shade of tangled thickets mourn.

To reign is worth ambition though in Hell: Better to reign in Hell, than serve in Heaven.

Hail, Son of the Most High, heir of both Worlds,   Queller of Satan! On thy glorious work   Now enter, and begin to save Mankind.     Thus they the Son of God, our Saviour meek,   Sung victor, and, from heavenly feast refreshed,   Brought on his way with joy. He, unobserved,   Home to his mother's house private returned.

Let none henceforth seek needless cause to approve the Faith they owe; when earnestly they seek such proof, conclude, they then begin to faile.

What in me is dark Illumine, what is low raise and support; That to the highth of this great Argument I may assert th' Eternal Providence, And justifie the wayes of God to men.

for neither do the spirits damned Lose all their virtue, lest bad men should boast Their specious deeds on earth which glory excites, Or close ambition varnished o'er with zeal.

Beholding the bright countenance of truth in the quiet and still air of delightful studies.

He who would not be frustrate of his hope to write well hereafter in laudable things ought himself to be a true Poem; that is, a composition and pattern of the best and honourablest things; not presuming to sing high praises of heroic men, or famous cities, unless he have in himself the experience and practice of all that which is praise-worthy.

Fame is the spur that the clear spirit doth raise (That last infirmity of noble mind) To scorn delights and live laborious days...

God doth not need either man's work or his own gifts, who best bear his milde yoak, they serve his best, his State is Kingly. Thousands at his bidding speed and post o're Land and Ocean without rest: they also serve who only stand and waite.

However, many books, Wise men have said, are wearisome; who reads Incessantly, and to his reading brings not A spirit and judgment equal or superior, (And what he brings what needs he elsewhere seek?) Uncertain and unsettled still remains, Deep-versed in books and shallow in himself, Crude or intoxicate, collecting toys And trifles for choice matters, worth a sponge, As children gathering pebbles on the shore.

For what can war but endless war still breed? - Sonnet 15

Thou art my father, thou my author, thou my being gav'st me; whom should I obey but thee, whom follow?

O Conscience, into what abyss of fears And horrors hast thou driven me, out of which I find no way, from deep to deeper plunged.

Govern well thy appetite, lest Sin surprise thee, and her black attendant Death.

Temper justice with mercy.

These evils I deserve, and more . . . . Justly, yet despair not of his final pardon, Whose ear is ever open, and his eye Gracious to re-admit the suppliant.

Anarchy is the sure consequence of tyranny; for no power that is not limited by laws can ever be protected by them.