1,273 Quotes by John Milton

Their rising all at once was as the soundOf thunder heard remote.

For Man to tell how human life began is hard; for who himself beginning knew?

Thou therefore on these Herbs, and Fruits, and Flow'rsFeed first, on each Beast next, and Fish, and Fowl, No homely morsels, and whatever thingThe Scyth of Time mows down, devour unspar'd, Till I in Man residing through the Race, His thoughts, his looks, words, actions all infect, And season him thy last and sweetest prey.

Yet not so strictly hath our Lord impos'd /Labor, as to debar when we need /Refreshment, whether food, or talk between,/ food of the mind, or this sweet intercourse/Of looks and smiles, for smiles from Reason flow,/To brutes denied, and are of Love the food, Love not the lowest end of human life. For not to irksome toil, but to delight/ He made us, and delight to reason join'd.

Mortals that would follow me, Love virtue, she alone is free, She can teach ye how to climb Higher than the sphery chime; Or if virtue feeble were, Heaven itself would stoop to her.

Mortals that would follow me, Love virtue, she alone is free, She can teach ye how to climb Higher than they sphery chime; Or if virtue feeble were, Heaven itself would stoop to her.

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

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

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