John Milton Quotes - Page 24

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He who tempts, though in vain, at last asperses
The tempted with dishonor foul, supposed
Not incorruptible of faith, not proof
Against temptation.

John Milton

Temptation, Lasts, Corruption

John Milton (2009). “The Complete Poetry and Essential Prose of John Milton”, p.526, Modern Library

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Courage never to submit of yield.

John Milton

Courage, Yield, Submit

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We should be wary what persecution we raise against the living labors of public men, how we spill that seasoned life of man, preserved and stored up in books, since we see a kind of homicide may be thus committed, sometimes a martyrdom; and if it extend to the whole impression, a kind of massacre, whereof the execution ends not in the slaying of an elemental life, but strikes at the ethereal and fifth essence, the breath of reason itself; slays an immortality rather than a life.

John Milton

Book, Men, Essence

John Milton (1976). “The Portable Milton”, p.126, Penguin

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Virtue could see to do what virtue would By her own radiant light, though sun and moon Were in the flat sea sunk. And Wisdom's self Oft seeks to sweet retired solitude, Where with her best nurse Contemplation She plumes her feathers and lets grow her wings, That in the various bustle of resort Were all-to ruffled, and sometimes impair'd. He that has light within his own clear breast May sit i' th' centre and enjoy bright day; But he that hides a dark soul and foul thoughts Benighted walks under the midday sun.

John Milton

Sweet, Dark, Moon

'Comus' (1637) l. 373

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As children gath'ring pebbles on the shore. Or if I would delight my private hours With music or with poem, where so soon As in our native language can I find That solace?

John Milton

Children, Native Language, Delight

John Milton (1748). “The Poetical Works of Mr. John Milton: Containing Paradise Lost, ... Paradise Regain'd, ... Samson Agonistes, ... And His Poems on Several Occasions. With a Tractate of Education. In Two Volumes”, p.58

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And storied windows richly dight, Casting a dim religious light. There let the pealing organ blow, To the full-voiced choir below, In service high, and anthems clear As may, with sweetness, through mine ear Dissolve me into ecstasies, And bring all heaven before mine eyes.

John Milton

Religious, Eye, Blow

'Il Penseroso' (1645) l. 157

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A gulf profound as that Serbonian bog Betwixt Damiata and Mount Casius old, Where armies whole have sunk: the parching air Burns frore, and cold performs th' effect of fire. Thither by harpy-footed Furies hal'd, At certain revolutions all the damn'd Are brought, and feel by turns the bitter change Of fierce extremes,-extremes by change more fierce; From beds of raging fire to starve in ice Their soft ethereal warmth, and there to pine Immovable, infix'd, and frozen round, Periods of time; thence hurried back to fire.

John Milton

Time, Army, Ice

John Milton, “Paradise Lost: Book 02”

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Evil into the mind of god or man may come and go, so unapproved, and leave no spot or blame behind.

John Milton

Men, Evil, Mind

John Milton, James BUCHANAN (Grammarian.) (1773). “The First Six Books of Milton's Paradise Lost, Rendered Into Grammatical Construction ... With Notes ... To which are Prefixed Remarks on Ellipsis and Transposition ... By J. Buchanan”, p.321

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Avenge, O Lord, thy slaughtered saints, whose bones Lie scattered on the Alpine mountains cold; Ev'n them who kept thy truth so pure of old When all our fathers worshipped stocks and stones Forget not.

John Milton

Lying, Father, Mountain

John Milton (2004). “The Complete Poems”, p.150, Penguin UK

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But that from us aught should ascend to Heav'n So prevalent as to concern the mind Of God, high-bless'd, or to incline His will, Hard to belief may seem; yet this will prayer.

John Milton

Prayer, Mind, May

John Milton (1852). “The Poetical Works of John Milton ...”, p.228

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Quips and Cranks and wanton Wiles, Nods and Becks and wreathèd Smiles.

John Milton

Nymphs, Wreaths, Dimples

'L'Allegro' (1645) l. 25

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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.

John Milton

Names, Wings, White

John Milton, Elijah Fenton, Samuel Johnson (1825). “The Poetical Works of John Milton”, p.97

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For Solomon, he lived at ease, and full Of honour, wealth, high fare, aimed not beyond Higher design than to enjoy his state.

John Milton

Design, Ease, Wealth

John Milton (2014). “Paradise Regained In Plain and Simple English: A Modern Translation and the Original Version”, p.33, BookCaps Study Guides

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What boots it at one gate to make defence, And at another to let in the foe?

John Milton

War, Boots, Defence

'Samson Agonistes' (1671) l. 558

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Sweetest Echo, sweetest nymph, that liv'st unseen Within thy airy shell, By slow Meander's margent green, And in the violet-embroidered vale.

John Milton

Echoes, Nymphs, Unseen

'Comus' (1637) l. 230

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O loss of sight, of thee I most complain! Blind among enemies, O worse than chains, Dungeon, or beggary, or decrepit age!

John Milton

Loss, Sight, Enemy

1671 Samson Agonistes, l.67-79.

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Rather than be less Car'd not to be at all.

John Milton

Car

John Milton (1750). “Paradise Lost: A Poem in Twelve Books”, p.93

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Anon out of the earth a fabric huge Rose, like an exhalation.

John Milton

Rose, Fabric, Earth

'Paradise Lost' (1667) bk. 1, l. 710

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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.

John Milton

Sweet, Selfish, Wind

John Milton, John D'Alton (1741). “Comus: a masque, now adapted to the stage by John Dalton ... The fifth edition”, p.35

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If at great things thou would'st arrive, Get riches first, get wealth, and treasure heap, Not difficult, if thou hearken to me; Riches are mine, fortune is in my hand, They whom I favor thrive in wealth amain, While virtue, valor, wisdom, sit in want.

John Milton

Ambition, Hands, Treasure

John Milton (1785). “Paradise Regain'd: A Poem, in Four Books. To which is Added Samson Agonistes: and Poems Upon Several Occasions. The Author John Milton. A New Edition. With Notes of Various Authors, by Thomas Newton, ...”, p.92

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Now came still evening on; and twilight gray Had in her sober livery all things clad: Silence accompanied; for beast and bird, They to they grassy couch, these to their nests, Were slunk, all but the wakeful nightingale.

John Milton

Twilight, Bird, Silence

'Paradise Lost' (1667) bk. 4, l. 598

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And now the herald lark Left his ground-nest, high tow'ring to descry The morn's approach, and greet her with his song.

John Milton

Song, Larks, Nests

John Milton (1752). “Paradise Regain'd. A Poem, in Four Books. To which is Added Samson Agonistes: and Poems Upon Several Occasions. The Author John Milton”, p.72

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Is it true, O Christ in heaven, that the highest suffer the most? That the strongest wander furthest and most hopelessly are lost? That the mark of rank in nature is capacity for pain? That the anguish of the singer makes the sweetness of the strain?

John Milton

Pain, Heaven, Suffering

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I sung of Chaos and Eternal Night, Taught by the heav'nly Muse to venture down The dark descent, and up to reascend.

John Milton

Dark, Night, Venture

John Milton (1732). “Milton's Paradise Lost”

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And what is faith, love, virtue unassayed Alone, without exterior help sustained?

John Milton

Faith, Helping, Virtue

John Milton, Edward Young, Thomas Gray, James Beattie, William Collins (1836). “The Poetical Works of Milton, Young, Gray, Beattie, and Collins”, p.65

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Born: December 9, 1608
Died: November 8, 1674
Occupation: Poet
Cite this Page: Citation

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