Thoughts by John Milton Quotes in English and Quotations
It's always inspiring to dive into the timeless wisdom of John Milton. His quotes and thoughts in English continue to resonate with readers across generations. Whether it's his reflections on life, love, or the pursuit of knowledge, John Milton's words have a way of capturing the essence of human experience.
One of the most poignant quotes by John Milton is, "The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven." This profound statement encapsulates the power of perspective and the ability to find solace or suffering within one's own mind. It serves as a reminder that our thoughts and perceptions shape our reality.
Another thought-provoking quote by John Milton is, "The end of learning is to know God, and out of that knowledge to love Him." This quote reflects Milton's deep spiritual convictions and the significance he placed on the pursuit of knowledge as a means to understanding and loving the divine. It resonates with those who seek wisdom not for its own sake, but as a pathway to a higher purpose.
In addition to these philosophical musings, John Milton's notable quotations on freedom, individualism, and perseverance continue to captivate readers and thinkers alike. His words carry a universality that transcends time and place, speaking to the core of human existence.
As we reflect on John Milton's quotes in English, we are reminded of the enduring power of literature to illuminate the human condition and provoke introspection. His timeless wisdom continues to enrich and inspire all those who encounter it. Whether it's in the pages of his literary works or through his memorable quotes, John Milton's legacy endures as a testament to the enduring power of thought and language.
In conclusion, John Milton's quotes in English and his profound thoughts continue to hold relevance in our lives, offering guidance, solace, and profound insights. His words carry a timeless weight that transcends the limitations of any single era, speaking to the enduring truths of the human experience.
Thank you for taking the time to explore John Milton's quotes and thoughts with me. May his wisdom continue to inspire and uplift us in our personal and intellectual journeys.
Uncovering Wisdom: John Milton Quotes That Inspire
John Milton, a literary giant of the 17th century, is best known for his epic poem "Paradise Lost." But his words resonate far beyond the pages of his works. Let’s dive into some of his most profound quotes that inspire thought, provoke emotion, and encourage reflection.
The Power of the Mind
Milton once said, “The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven.” This quote emphasizes the incredible power of our thoughts. Just think about it: our mindset can transform our experiences. A positive outlook can turn challenges into opportunities, while a negative one can overshadow even the brightest moments. Isn’t it fascinating how much control we have over our perception of reality?
The Value of Freedom
"Give me liberty, or give me death!" This passionate cry isn’t only relevant in the context of politics but also in our personal lives. Milton’s views on freedom extend beyond mere existence; they delve into the essence of being truly alive. What does freedom mean to you? Is it the ability to express yourself, to chase your dreams, or to make choices without constraints? Understanding this can unlock a greater sense of purpose.
The Nature of Truth
Milton’s assertion that “Truth is the strongest of all things” highlights the importance of honesty. In a world where misinformation spreads like wildfire, holding onto the truth becomes an act of rebellion. When you pursue truth, you embrace clarity over confusion. Have you ever noticed how liberating it feels to be open and honest? It’s like shedding a heavy cloak that’s been weighing you down.
The Complexity of Good and Evil
In "Paradise Lost," Milton explores the duality of good and evil, stating, “What [Satan] wants, he will not have.” This complex relationship invites us to consider the choices we make. Often, the very desires we chase can lead to our downfall. It raises a question worth pondering: Are we fully aware of the consequences of our actions? Just as light cannot exist without darkness, our decisions often shape our destinies.
The Importance of Perseverance
Milton encourages resilience with lines like “The never-ending fight for freedom.” Life is a constant battle, filled with obstacles and setbacks. However, it’s through these struggles that we build character. Have you ever faced a challenge that seemed insurmountable? Perhaps that experience taught you something invaluable. Embracing perseverance not only helps us overcome difficulties but also strengthens our resolve for the future.
Embracing Knowledge
“Knowledge is the food of the soul” is a reminder of how crucial learning is for personal growth. In a world teeming with information, the pursuit of knowledge should be unending. It connects us, enriches our lives, and empowers us to make informed decisions. So, what do you want to learn today? Whether it’s a new skill or a fascinating fact, knowledge fuels our journey.
Conclusion: The Lasting Impact of Milton's Quotes
John Milton’s quotes are not just words; they are lessons that continue to echo through time. They compel us to reflect on our thoughts, choices, and the world around us. By tapping into the wisdom of Milton, we can navigate life’s complexities with greater clarity and purpose. So, which quote resonates most with you? Let Milton’s powerful words guide you as you forge your own path.
Thought of the Day by John Milton
The end of all learning is to know God, and out of that knowledge to love and imitate Him.
He that has light within his own clear breast May sit in the center, and enjoy bright day: But he that hides a dark soul and foul thoughts Benighted walks under the mid-day sun; Himself his own dungeon. |
I cannot praise a fugitive and cloistered virtue, unexercised and unbreathed, that never sallies out and sees her adversary, but slinks out of the race where that immortal garland is to be run for, not without dust and heat. |
Horror and doubt distract His troubled thoughts and from the bottom stir The Hell within him, for within him Hell He brings and round about him, nor from Hell One step no more than from himself can fly By change of place. |
Some natural tears they dropped, 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 wand'ring steps and slow, through Eden took their solitary way. |
Though all winds of doctrine were let loose to play upon the earth, so truth be in the field, we do injuriously by licensing and prohibiting to misdoubt her strength. Let her and falsehood grapple, who ever knew truth put to the worse, in a free and open encounter. |
He who thinks we are to pitch our tent here, and have attained the utmost prospect of reformation that the mortal glass wherein we contemplate can show us, till we come to beatific vision, that man by this very opinion declares that he is yet far short of truth. |
Me miserable! Which way shall I fly Infinite wrath and infinite despair? Which way I fly is hell; myself am hell; And in the lowest deep a lower deep, Still threat'ning to devour me, opens wide, To which the hell I suffer seems a heaven. |
For books are not absolutely dead things, but do contain a potency of life in them to be as active as that soul was whose progeny they are; nay, they do preserve as in a vial the purest efficacy and extraction of that living intellect that bred them. |
The end then of learning is to repair the ruins of our first parents by regaining to know God aright, and out of that knowledge to love him, to imitate him, to be like him, as we may the nearest by possessing our souls of true virtue, which being united to the heavenly grace of faith makes up the highest perfection. |
We know no time when we were not as now. |
Who kills a man kills a reasonable creature, God's image; but he who destroys a good book, kills reason itself, kills the image of God, as it were, in the eye. Many a man lives a burden to the earth; but a good book is the precious lifeblood of a master spirit, embalmed and treasured up on purpose to a life beyond life. |
This horror will grow milde, this darkness light. |
Most men admire Virtue who follow not her lore. |
Heaven's last best gift, my ever new delight. |
Freely they stood who stood, and fell who fell. |
God does not need man nor his won works. |
I formd them free, and free they must remain. |
We live Law to ourselves. Our reason is our Law. - Quotation |
This glorious sight, when sleep hath shut all eyes? |
For so I created them free and free they must remain. |
The childhood shows the man, as morning shows the day. |
What is strength without a double share of wisdom? |
Who overcomes By force, hath overcome but half his foe. |
Part of my soul I seek thee, and claim thee my other half. |
Long is the way and hard, that out of Hell leads up to light. |
Yet from those flames No light, but rather darkness visible. |
What am I pondering, you ask? So help me God, immortality. |
Our torments also may in length of time Become our Elements. |
Immediate are the acts of God, more swift than time or motion. |
They changed their minds, Flew off, and into strange vagaries fell. |
The goal of all learning is to repair the ruin of our first parents. |
Their rising all at once was as the sound Of thunder heard remote. |
I made him just and right, sufficient to have stood, though free to fall. |
Firm they might have stood, yet fell; remember, and fear to transgress. |
The mind is a universe and can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven. |
And looks commercing with the skies, Thy rapt soul sitting in thine eyes. |
They who have put out the people's eyes reproach them of their blindness. |
Ah, why should all mankind For one man's fault, be condemned, If guiltless? |
The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven. |
And what is faith, love, virtue unassay'd alone, without exterior help sustained? |
One sip of this will bathe the drooping spirits in delight, beyond the bliss of dreams. |
What reinforcement we may gain from hope, If not what resolution from despair. |
Where the bright seraphim in burning row Their loud uplifted angel trumpets blow. |
For Man to tell how human life began is hard; for who himself beginning knew? |
And on their naked limbs the flowry roof/Show'r'd Rose, which the Morn repair'd. |
See with what heat these Dogs of Hell advance To waste and havoc yonder World. |
Come let us haste, the stars grow high, But night sits monarch yet in the mid sky. |
So dear I love him, that with him all deaths I could endure, without him live no life. |
Yet he who reigns within himself, and rules Passions, desires, and fears, is more a king. |
John Milton Quotes in English |
Only supreme in misery! |
Solitude sometimes is best society. |
What hath night to do with sleep? |
Our cure, to be no more; sad cure! |
What in me is dark illumine. |
What is dark within me, illumine. |
Still paying, still to owe. Eternal woe! |
Commands are no constraints. |
For solitude somtimes is best societie. |
Wild above rule or art, enormous bliss. |
So little is our loss, So little is thy gain. |
Such sweet compulsion doth in music lie. |
They also serve who only stand and wait. |
From his lips/Not words alone pleased her. |
To be weak is miserable, Doing or suffering. |
Farewell Hope, and with Hope farewell Fear. |
Go; for thy stay, not free, absents thee more. |
Better to reign in Hell, than to serve in Heaven. |
Thou canst not touch the freedom of my mind. |
A mind not to be chang’d by Place or Time. |
Never can true reconcilement grow where wounds of deadly hate have pierced so deep... |
That who advances his glory, not their own, Them he himself to glory will advance. |
At length from us may find, who overcomes By force, hath overcome but half his foe. |
He who reigns within himself and rules passions, desires, and fears is more than a king. |
And so sepúlchred in such pomp dost lie, That kings for such a tomb would wish to die. |
For never can true reconcilement grow Where wounds of deadly hate have peirc’d so deep. |
Freely we serve Because we freely love, as in our will To love or not; in this we stand or fall. |
The end of all learning is to know God, and out of that knowledge to love and imitate Him. * |
First there was Chaos, the vast immeasurable abyss Outrageous as a sea, dark, wasteful, wild. |
Sometimes people close a door because they’re trying to figure out a way to get you to knock. |
So shall the world go on, To good malignant, to bad men benign, Under her own weight groaning. |
Innocence, Once Lost, Can Never Be Regained. Darkness, Once Gazed Upon, Can Never Be Lost. |
All is best, though we oft doubt, what the unsearchable dispose, of highest wisdom brings about. |
Give me the liberty to know, to utter, and to argue freely according to conscience, above all liberties. |
Neither man nor angel can discern hypocrisy, the only evil that walks invisible except to God alone. |
Out of such prison, though Spirits of purest light, Purest at first, now gross by sinning grown. |
Let her and Falsehood grapple; who ever knew Truth put to the worse in a free and open encounter? |
A grateful mind by owing owes not, but still pays, at once indebted and discharged; what burden then? |
Then wilt thou not be loath To leave this Paradise, but shalt possess A Paradise within thee, happier far. |
O dark, dark, dark, amid the blaze of noon, Irrecoverably dark, total eclipse Without all hope of day! |
And, when night Darkens the streets, then wander forth the sons Of Belial, flown with insolence and wine. |
Be strong, live happy and love, but first of all Him whom to love is to obey, and keep His great command! |
Thou art my father, thou my author, thou my being gav'st me; whom should I obey but thee, whom follow? |
He left it in thy power, ordaind thy will By nature free, not over-rul'd by Fate Inextricable, or strict necessity; |
Pandemonium, the palace of Satan rises, suddenly built of the deep: the infernal peers there sit in council. |
So farewell hope, and with hope farewell fear, Farewell remorse: all good to me is lost; Evil, be thou my good. |
Did I request thee, Maker, from my clay To mould me man? Did I solicit thee From darkness to promote me? |
All is not lost; the unconquerable Will, And study of revenge, immortal hate, And courage never to submit or yield. |
Did I request thee, Maker, from my Clay To mould me Man, did I sollicite thee From darkness to promote me. |
All is not lost, the unconquerable will, and study of revenge, immortal hate, and the courage never to submit or yield. |
A good book is the precious life-blood of a master spirit, embalmed and treasured up on purpose to a life beyond life. |
Truth and understanding are not such wares as to be monopolized and traded in by tickets and statutes and standards. |
I sung of Chaos and Eternal Night, Taught by the heav'nly Muse to venture down The dark descent, and up to reascend... |
I sung of Chaos and Eternal Night, Taught by the heav’nly Muse to venture down The dark descent, and up to reascend. |
A mind not to be changed by place or time. The mind is its own place, and in itself Can make a heav'n of hell, a hell of heav'n. |
The stars, that nature hung in heaven, and filled their lamps with everlasting oil, give due light to the misled and lonely traveler. |
Much of the Soul they talk, but all awry; And in themselves seek virtue; and to themselves All glory arrogate, to God give none. |
Knowledge forbidden? Suspicious, reasonless. Why should their Lord Envy them that? Can it be a sin to know? Can it be death? |
I will not deny but that the best apology against false accusers is silence and sufferance, and honest deeds set against dishonest words. |
O sun, to tell thee how I hate thy beams That bring to my remembrance from what state I fell, how glorious once above thy sphere. |
The wife, where danger or dishonor lurks, safest and seemliest by her husband stays, who guards her, or with her the worst endures. |
If we think to regulat Printing, thereby to rectifie manners, we must regulat all recreations and pastimes, all that is delightfull to Man. |
From morn to noon he fell, from noon to dewy eve, a summer's day; and with the setting sun dropped from the zenith like a falling star. |
Not to know at large of things remote From use, obscure and subtle, but to know That which before us lies in daily life, Is the prime wisdom. |
What though the field be lost? All is not Lost; the unconquerable will, And study of revenge, immortal hate, And the courage never to submit or yeild. |
Confounded, though immortal. But his doom, reserved him to more wrath; for now the thought both of lost happiness and lasting pain torments him. |
Many a man lives a burden to the Earth, but a good book is the precious life-blood of a master spirit, imbalmed and treasured up on purpose to a life beyond life. |
They are the troublers, they are the dividers of unity, who neglect and don't permit others to unite those dissevered pieces which are yet wanting to the body of Truth. |
But what more oft in Nations grown corrupt, And by thir vices brought to servitude, Than to love Bondage more than Liberty, Bondage with ease than strenuous liberty; |
Gratitude bestows reverence, allowing us to encounter everyday epiphanies, those transcendent moments of awe that change forever how we experience life and the world. |
I call therefore a complete and generous education that which fits a man to perform justly, skilfully and magnanimously all the offices both private and public, of peace and war. |
A broad and ample road, whose dust is gold, And pavement stars - as starts to thee appear Soon in the galaxy, that milky way Which mightly as a circling zone thou seest Powder'd wiht stars. |
While yet we live, scarce one short hour perhaps, Between us two let there be peace, both joining, As joined in injuries, and enmity Against a foe by doom express assigned us, That cruel serpent. |
So hand in hand they passed, the loveliest pair that ever since in love's embraces met -- Adam, the goodliest man of men since born his sons; the fairest of her daughters Eve. |
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. |
That day I oft remember, when from sleep I first awaked, and found myself reposed, Under a shade, on flowers, much wondering where And what I was, whence thither brought, and how. |
So heavenly love shall outdo hellish hate, Giving to death, and dying to redeem, So dearly to redeem what hellish hate So easily destroy'd, and still destroys, In those who, when they may, accept not grace. |
