John Milton was an English poet, polemicist, man of letters, and civil servant for the Commonwealth of England under Oliver Cromwell. He is best known for his epic poem Paradise Lost, written in blank verse, and widely considered to be one of the greatest works of literature ever written. Milton was a prolific writer, and also wrote many other works, including the epic poem Paradise Regained and the tragedy Samson Agonistes. Following is our collection on famous quotes by John Milton on love, death, freedom of speech.
Athens, the eye of Greece, mother of arts And eloquence.
Gratitude bestows reverence, allowing us to encounter everyday epiphanies, those transcendent moments of awe that change forever how we experience life and the world.
He who destroys a good book kills reason itself.
Sabrina fair, Listen where thou art sitting Under the glassy, cool, translucent wave, In twisted braids of lilies knitting The loose train of thy amber-dropping hair.
Have hung My dank and dropping weeds To the stern god of sea.
Where no hope is left, is left no fear.
O dark, dark, dark, amid the blaze of noon, Irrecoverably dark, total eclipse Without all hope of day!
Love Virtue, she alone is free, She can teach ye how to climb Higher than the sphery chime; Or, if Virtue feeble were, Heav'n itself would stoop to her.
Come, pensive nun, devout and pure, sober steadfast, and demure, all in a robe of darkest grain, flowing with majestic train.
John Milton inspirational quote
John Milton Image Quotes
Where no hope is left, is left no fear. — John Milton
Pandemonium, the high capital Of Satan and his peers. — John Milton
John Milton Short Quotes
I sat me down to watch upon a bank With ivy canopied and interwove With flaunting honeysuckle.
Him that yon soars on golden wing, guiding the fiery-wheelèd throne, the Cherub Contemplation.
No mighty trance, or breathed spell Inspires the pale-eyed priest from the prophetic cell.
The timely dew of sleep Now falling with soft slumb'rous weight inclines Our eyelids.
Nothing profits more than self-esteem, grounded on what is just and right.
To be blind is not miserable; not to be able to bear blindness, that is miserable.
Loneliness is the first thing which God's eye named not good.
The mountain nymph, sweet Liberty.
Believe and be confirmed.
Beauty is God's handwriting-a wayside sacrament.
John Milton Quotes About Love
Grace was in all her steps, heaven in her eye, in every gesture dignity and love. — John Milton
Haste thee, Nymph, and bring with thee Jest, and youthful Jollity, Quips, and Cranks, and wanton Wiles, Nods, and Becks, and wreathed Smiles, Such as hang on Hebe's cheek, And love to live in dimple sleek; Sport that wrinkled Care derides, And Laughter holding both his sides. — John Milton
But let my due feet never fail To walk the studious cloisters pale, And love the high embowed roof, With antique pillars massy proof, And storied windows richly dight; Casting a dim religious light. — John Milton
So dear I love him, that with him, all deaths I could endure, without him, live no life. — John Milton
Yet beauty, though injurious, hath strange power, After offence returning, to regain Love once possess'd. — John Milton
With a smile that glow'd Celestial rosy red, love's proper hue. — John Milton
Biochemically, love is just like eating large amounts of chocolate. — John Milton
None can love freedom heartily, but good men... the rest love not freedom, but license. — John Milton
The end of learning is to know God, and out of that knowledge to love Him and imitate Him. — John Milton
Say, heavenly pow'rs, where shall we find such love? Which of ye will be mortal to redeem Man's mortal crime, and just th' unjust to save. — John Milton
John Milton Quotes About Death
Better to reign in hell than serve in heav'n. — John Milton
Death is the golden key that opens the palace of eternity. — John Milton
Knowledge forbidden? Suspicious, reasonless. Why should their Lord Envy them that? Can it be sin to know, Can it be death? And do they only stand By ignorance? Is that their happy state, The proof of their obedience and their faith? O fair foundation laid whereon to build Their ruin! — John Milton
Anger and just rebuke, and judgment given,
That brought into this world a world of woe,
Sin and her shadow Death, and Misery,
Death's harbinger. — John Milton
And now without redemption all mankind Must have been lost, adjudged to death and hell By doom severe. — John Milton
Of man's first disobedience, and the fruit/Of that forbidden tree, whose mortal taste/Brought death into the world, and all our woe,/With loss of Eden, till one greater Man/Restore us, and regain the blissful seat,/Sing heavenly muse — John Milton
Knowledge forbidden? Suspicious, reasonless. Why should their Lord Envy them that? Can it be a sin to know? Can it be death? — John Milton
Come to the sunset tree! The day is past and gone; The woodman's axe lies free, And the reaper's work is done. — John Milton
Govern well thy appetite, lest Sin surprise thee, and her black attendant Death. — John Milton
I was all ear, And took in strains that might create a soul Under the ribs of death. — John Milton
John Milton Quotes About Life
Gratitude bestows reverence.....changing forever how we experience life and the world. — John Milton
Let those who would write heroic poems make their life an heroic poem. — John Milton
I will not deny but that the best apology against false accusers is silence and sufferance, and honest deeds set against dishonest words. — John Milton
Sense of pleasure we may well
Spare out of life perhaps, and not repine,
But live content, which is the calmest life;
But pain is perfect misery, the worst
Of evils, and excessive, overturns
All patience. — John Milton
By labor and intent study (which I take to be my portion in this life), joined with the strong propensity of nature, I might perhaps leave something so written to after-times, as they should not willingly let it die. — John Milton
A death-like sleep,
A gentle wafting to immortal life. — John Milton
(That last infirmity of noble mind) To scorn delights, and live laborious days; But the fair guerdon when we hope to find, And think to burst out into sudden blaze, Comes the blind Fury with th' abhorred shears And slits the thin-spun life. — John Milton
Peace hath her victories, no less renowned than War. — John Milton
Books are not absolutely dead things, but do contain a potency of life in them....I know they are as lively and as vigorously productive as those fabulous dragon's teeth and being sown up and down, may chance to spring up armed men. — John Milton
And on the Tree of Life, The middle tree and highest there that grew, Sat like a cormorant. — John Milton
John Milton Quotes About Education
I will point ye out the right path of a virtuous and noble Education; laborious indeed at first ascent, but else so smooth, so green, so full of goodly prospect, and melodious sounds on every side, that the harp of Orpheus was not more charming. — John Milton
Education of youth is not a bow for every man to shoot in that counts himself a teacher; but will require sinews almost equal to those which Homer gave to Ulysses. — John Milton
I call a complete and generous education that which fits a man to perform justly, skillfully, and magnanimously all the offices, both private and public, of peace and war. — John Milton
John Milton Quotes About Eloquent
Eloquence the soul, song charms the senses. — John Milton
Thence to the famous orators repair, Those ancient, whose resistless eloquence Wielded at will that fierce democratie, Shook the arsenal, and fulmin'd over Greece, To Macedon, and Artaxerxes' throne. — John Milton
By a certain fate, great acts, and great eloquence have most commonly gone hand in hand, equalling and honoring each other in the same ages. — John Milton
In discourse more sweet; For eloquence the soul, song charms the sense. Others apart sat on a hill retir'd, In thoughts more elevate, and reason'd high Of providence, foreknowledge, will, and fate, Fix'd fate, free-will, foreknowledge absolute; And found no end, in wand'ring mazes lost. — John Milton
John Milton Quotes About Soul
Or bid the soul of Orpheus sing Such notes as, warbled to the string, Drew iron tears down Pluto's cheek. — John Milton
But he that hides a dark soul and foul thoughts benighted walks under the mid-day sun; Himself is his own dungeon. — John Milton
But when Lust By unchaste looks, loose gestures, and foul talk, But most by lewd and lavish arts of sin, Lets in defilement to the inward parts, The soul grows clotted by contagion, Imbodies and imbrutes, till she quite lose The divine property of her first being. — John Milton
Such as the meeting soul may pierce, In notes with many a winding bout Of linked sweetness long drawn out. — John Milton
He that has light within his own clear breast May sit in the centre, 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. — John Milton
Those graceful acts, those thousand decencies, that daily flow from all her words and actions, mixed with love and sweet compliance, which declare unfeigned union of mind, or in us both one soul. — John Milton
He that has light within his own cleer brestMay sit ith center, and enjoy bright day,But he that hides a dark soul, and foul thoughtsBenighted walks under the mid-day Sun;Himself is his own dungeon. — John Milton
So dear to Heaven is saintly chastity,That, when a soul is found sincerely so,A thousand liveried angels lacky her,Driving far off each thing of sin and guilt. — John Milton
Books are not absolutely dead things, but do contain a certain potency of life in them, to be as active as the soul whose progeny they are; they preserve, as in a vial, the purest efficacy and extraction of the living intellect that bred them. — John Milton
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; — John Milton
John Milton Quotes About Heaven
The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven.. — John Milton
In those vernal seasons of the year when the air is calm and pleasant, it were an injury and sullenness against nature not to go out and see her riches, and partake in her rejoicing with heaven and earth. — John Milton
Long is the way and hard, that out of hell leads up to light. — John Milton
Mammon, the least erected spirit that fell >From heaven; for ev'n in heaven his looks and thoughts Were always downward bent, admiring more The riches of heaven's pavement, trodden gold, Than aught divine or holy else enjoy'd In vision beatific. — John Milton
Swinish gluttony never looks to heaven amidst its gorgeous feast; but with besotted, base ingratitude, cravens and blasphemes his feeder. — John Milton
Here we may reign secure; and in my choice
To reign is worth ambition, though in hell:
Better to reign in hell than serve in heaven. — John Milton
Nor aught availed him now to have built in heaven high towers; nor did he scrape by all his engines, but was headlong sent with his industrious crew to build in hell. — John Milton
Hail, holy light! offspring of heaven firstborn! Or of th' eternal co-eternal beam, May I express thee unblam'd? since God is light And never but in unapproached light Dwelt from eternity, dwelt then in thee, Bright effluence of bright essence increate! — John Milton
The mind is its own place, and in itself can make heaven of hell, a hell of heaven. — John Milton
The earth, though in comparison of heaven so small, nor glistering, may of solid good contain more plenty than the sun, that barren shines. — John Milton
John Milton Quotes About Book
Pandemonium, the high capital Of Satan and his peers. — John Milton
All is not lost, the unconquerable will, and study of revenge, immortal hate, and the courage never to submit or yield. — John Milton
A good book is the precious lifeblood of a master spirit. — John Milton
Sweet is the breath of morn, her rising sweet, With charm of earliest birds. — John Milton
Never can true reconcilement grow where wounds of deadly hate have pierced so deep. — John Milton
Abash'd the Devil stood, And felt how awful goodness is. — John Milton
Revenge, at first though sweet, Bitter ere long back on itself recoils. — John Milton
And out of good still to find means of evil. — John Milton
Yet from those flames No light, but rather darkness visible. — John Milton
In dim eclipse, disastrous twilight sheds On half the nations, and with fear of change Perplexes monarchs. — John Milton
John Milton Quotes About Hell
Nor from hell One step no more than from himself can fly By change of place. — John Milton
All hell broke loose. — John Milton
Meanwhile the Adversary of God and man, Satan with thoughts inflamed of highest design, Puts on swift wings, and towards the gates of hell Explores his solitary flight. — John Milton
Let none admire that riches grow in hell; that soil may best deserve the precious bane. — John Milton
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. — John Milton
Which way I fly is Hell; myself am Hell. — John Milton
A shout that tore hell's concave, and beyond / Frightened the reign of Chaos and old Night. — John Milton
And some are fall'n, to disobedience fall'n, And so from Heav'n to deepest Hell; O fall From what high state of bliss into what woe! — John Milton
Who would not, finding way, break loose from hell, . . . . And boldly venture to whatever place Farthest from pain? — John Milton
The mind is its own place and in itself, can make a Heaven of Hell, a Hell of Heaven. — John Milton
John Milton Quotes About Light
Where glowing embers through the room Teach light to counterfeit a gloom. — John Milton
And storied windows richly dight, Casting a dim religious light. — John Milton
Come knit hands, and beat the ground in a light fantastic round — John Milton
And I will place within them as a guide My umpire conscience, whom if they will hear Light after light well used they shall attain, And to the end persisting, safe arrive. — John Milton
Morn, Wak'd by the circling hours, with rosy hand Unbarr'd the gates of light. — John Milton
Confusion heard his voice, and wild uproar Stood ruled, stood vast infinitude confined; Till at his second bidding darkness fled, Light shone, and order from disorder sprung. — John Milton
Virtue could see to do what Virtue would by her own radiant light, though sun and moon where in the flat sea sunk. — John Milton
This horror will grow mild, this darkness light. — John Milton
Hail holy light, offspring of heav'n firstborn! — John Milton
Come and trip it as ye go
On the light fantastic toe. — John Milton
John Milton Famous Quotes And Sayings
Some say no evil thing that walks by night, In fog or fire, by lake or moorish fen, Blue meagre hag, or stubborn unlaid ghost That breaks his magic chains at curfew time, No goblin, or swart fairy of the mine, Hath hurtful power o'er true virginity. — John Milton
Where no hope is left, is left no fear. — John Milton
These eyes, tho' clear To outward view of blemish or of spot, Bereft of light, their seeing have forgot, Nor to their idle orbs doth sight appear Of sun, or moon, or star, throughout the year, Or man, or woman. Yet I argue not Against Heaven's hand or will, not bate a jot Of heart or hope; but still bear up and steer Right onward. — John Milton
Lethe, the river of oblivion, rolls his watery labyrinth, which whoso drinks forgets both joy and grief. — John Milton
Give me the liberty to know, to utter, and to argue freely according to conscience, above all liberties. — John Milton
There is nothing that making men rich and strong but that which they carry inside of them. True wealth is of the heart, not of the hand. — John Milton
Pandemonium, the high capital Of Satan and his peers. — John Milton
When we speak of knowing God, it must be understood with reference to man's limited powers of comprehension. God, as He really is, is far beyond man's imagination, let alone understanding. God has revealed only so much of Himself as our minds can conceive and the weakness of our nature can bear. — John Milton
From restless thoughts, that, like a deadly swarm Of hornets arm'd, no sooner found alone, But rush upon me thronging. — John Milton
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
Bacchus, that first from out the purple grape
Crush'd the sweet poison of misused wine. — John Milton
The whole freedom of man consists either in spiritual or civil liberty. — John Milton
The hungry sheep look up, and are not fed. — John Milton
Gratitude bestows reverence, allowing us to encounter everyday epiphanies. — John Milton
The winds with wonder whist, Smoothly the waters kisst. — John Milton
Beauty is nature's brag, and must be shown in courts, at feasts, and high solemnities, where most may wonder at the workmanship. — John Milton
Tears such as angels weep. — John Milton
A thousand fantasies Begin to throng into my memory, Of calling shapes, and beckoning shadows dire, And airy tongues that syllable men's names On sands and shores and desert wildernesses — John Milton
Yet once more, O ye laurels, and once more Ye myrtles brown, with ivy never sere, I come to pluck your berries harsh and crude, And with forced fingers rude Shatter your leaves before the mellowing year. — John Milton
The childhood shows the man, as morning shows the day. — John Milton
If weakness may excuse, What murderer, what traitor, parricide, Incestuous, sacrilegious, but may plead it? All wickedness is weakness; that plea, therefore, With God or man will gain thee no remission. — John Milton
One sip of this will bathe the drooping spirits in delight, beyond the bliss of dreams. — John Milton
Ink is the blood of the printing-press. — John Milton
It was that fatal and perfidious bark, Built in th' eclipse, and rigg'd with curses dark. — John Milton
To hear the lark begin his flight, And singing startle the dull Night, From his watch-tower in the skies, Till the dappled dawn doth rise. — John Milton
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. — John Milton
O welcome pure-eyed Faith, white handed Hope, Thou hovering angel girt with golden wings. — John Milton
How charming is divine philosophy! Not harsh and crabbed, as dull fools suppose, But musical as is Apollo's lute, And a perpetual feast of nectar'd sweets Where no crude surfeit reigns — John Milton
What boots it at one gate to make defence, And at another to let in the foe? — John Milton
He who reins within himself and rules passions, desires, and fears is more than a king — John Milton
Chaos umpire sits And by decision more embroils the fray by which he reigns: next him high arbiter Chance governs all. — John Milton
Justice divine Mends not her slowest pace for prayers or cries. — John Milton
Innumerable as the stars of night, Or stars of morning, dewdrops which the sun Impearls on every leaf and every flower. — John Milton
When a king sets himself to bandy against the highest court and residence of all regal powers, he then, in the single person of a man, fights against his own majesty and kingship. — John Milton
Fairy elves, Whose midnight revels by a forest side Or fountain some belated peasant sees, Or dreams he sees, while overhead the moon Sits arbitress. — John Milton
O execrable son! so to aspire
Above his brethren, to himself assuming
Authority usurped, from God not given.
He gave us only over beast, fish, fowl,
Dominion absolute; that right we hold
By his donation; but man over men
He made not lord; such title to himself
Reserving, human left from human free. — John Milton
On a sudden open fly With impetuous recoil and jarring sound Th' infernal doors, and on their hinges grate Harsh thunder. — John Milton
O loss of sight, of thee I most complain! Blind among enemies, O worse than chains, Dungeon, or beggary, or decrepit age! — John Milton
Antichrist is Mammon's son. — John Milton
Where shame is, there is also fear. — John Milton
Thus with the year
Seasons return, but not to me returns
Day, or the sweet approach of ev'n or morn,
Or sight of vernal bloom, or summer's rose,
Or flocks, or herds, or human face divine. — John Milton
To be weak is miserable, Doing or suffering. — John Milton
Good, the more communicated, more abundant grows. — John Milton
Ride the air In whirlwind. — John Milton
Time will run back and fetch the Age of Gold. — John Milton
For neither man nor angel can discern hypocrisy, the only evil that walks invisible, except to God alone. — John Milton
Flowers of all hue, and without thorn the rose. — John Milton
With ruin upon ruin, rout on rout, Confusion worse confounded. — John Milton
So he with difficulty and labour hard Mov'd on, with difficulty and labour he. — John Milton
What hath night to do with sleep? — John Milton
Earth felt the wound; and Nature from her seat, Sighing through all her works, gave signs of woe That all was lost. — John Milton
What in me is dark
Illumine, what is low raise and support,
That to the height of this great argument
I may assert eternal Providence,
And justify the ways of God to men. 1
Paradise Lost. Book i. Line 22. — John Milton
Hence, loathèd Melancholy, Of Cerberus and blackest Midnight born, In Stygian cave forlorn, 'Mongst horrid shapes, and shrieks, and sights unholy. — John Milton
On the tawny sands and shelves trip the pert fairies and the dapper elves. — John Milton
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. — John Milton
The best apology against false accusers is silence. — John Milton
Awake, arise or be for ever fall’n. — John Milton
Life Lessons by John Milton
John Milton teaches us to embrace our own inner strength and to never give up on our dreams, no matter how difficult the journey may be.
He also encourages us to be open to different perspectives and to strive for knowledge and understanding.
Finally, Milton reminds us to remain humble and to recognize the power of faith and love in our lives.
Citation
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