100 Selected Quotes By John Milton, The Author Of Paradise Lost
John Milton was a poet, civil servant and a highly regarded intellectual from England, who lived in the 17th century and is credited for penning one of the most famous epics in English literature. Other than English, Milton was well versed in Latin and other European languages. He is without doubt one of the greatest English poets and his work reflected a deep sense of commitment to the causes of freedom of speech as well as self-expression, at a time when such things were not at the top of the mind of most intellectuals. Other than being a most influential poet, Milton was also a civil servant who worked under the ‘Commonwealth of England’. Milton’s most famous work, which is still studied at universities and schools all over the world, is the epic ‘Paradise Lost’ written in 1667 and will surely remain immortal in the annals of literature. Milton’s other famous work is the book ‘Areopagitica’ written in 1644 that deal with subjects like self-expression and freedom of speech. Needless to say, he was ahead of his time in this regard. His life and work also produced a veritable feast of quotes and here are some of the most famous ones that will certainly go down in history as some of his best.
The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven..
What hath night to do with sleep?
Better to reign in Hell, than to serve in Heaven.
Solitude sometimes is best society.
Freely we serve Because we freely love, as in our will To love or not; in this we stand or fall.
Awake, arise or be for ever fall’n.
Long is the way and hard, that out of Hell leads up to light.
I will not deny but that the best apology against false accusers is silence and sufferance, and honest deeds set against dishonest words.
Abashed the devil stood and felt how awful goodness is and saw Virtue in her shape how lovely: and pined his loss
All is not lost, the unconquerable will, and study of revenge, immortal hate, and the courage never to submit or yield.
Farewell Hope, and with Hope farewell Fear
Innocence, Once Lost, Can Never Be Regained. Darkness, Once Gazed Upon, Can Never Be Lost.
Never can true reconcilement grow where wounds of deadly hate have pierced so deep...
A good book is the precious life-blood of a master spirit, embalmed and treasured up on purpose to a life beyond life.
I sung of Chaos and Eternal Night, Taught by the heav'nly Muse to venture down The dark descent, and up to reascend...
Give me the liberty to know, to utter, and to argue freely according to conscience, above all liberties.
Thou canst not touch the freedom of my mind.
Yet he who reigns within himself, and rules Passions, desires, and fears, is more a king.
And so sepúlchred in such pomp dost lie, That kings for such a tomb would wish to die.
How soon hath Time, the subtle thief of youth, Stol'n on his wing my three-and-twentieth year!
For so I created them free and free they must remain.
This horror will grow mild, this darkness light.
Such sweet compulsion doth in music lie.
What is dark within me, illumine.
Freely they stood who stood, and fell who fell.
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.
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.
Where the bright seraphim in burning row Their loud uplifted angel trumpets blow.
Our state cannot be severed, we are one, One flesh; to lose thee were to lose myself.
From his lips/Not words alone pleased her.
