Inspirational Quotations

Inspirational Quotes by John Milton (English Poet)

John Milton (1608–74) was an English poet of radical politics who lived during one of the most volatile times in the history of England. He is best remembered as the author of Lycidas (1637,) Paradise Lost, and Paradise Regained.

Born on Bread Street in London, to an affluent family, Milton studied at Cambridge. He became fluent in Latin, Greek, Italian, and Hebrew, and he committed the entire Bible to memory. In 1638, he left on a 15-month tour to visit Florence, Rome, and Naples and met such important figures as astronomer Galileo Galilei and the Dutch jurist Hugo Grotius. His expedition to Europe was interrupted by news of political turmoil in England and the likelihood of a civil war.

Upon his return to England, Milton became a polemicist and wrote prose for the Republican cause. He used the then-new printing press to produce and distribute pamphlets. His political influential expanded, and Milton became chief assistant to Oliver Cromwell, lord protector of the English Commonwealth.

In his later years, Milton was beset by failing eyesight. By 1654, Milton was blind. Many of his poems were dictated to assistants, one of whom was the poet Andrew Marvell.

The English Commonwealth collapsed upon Cromwell’s death in 1658. After the reinstatement of the monarchy in 1660, Milton was imprisoned. Marvell argued that Milton was old and blind and thus posed no threat to Charles II. So, Milton narrowly escaped execution and got liberated.

All Milton’s three major works, Paradise Lost (1667; revised, 1674,) Paradise Regained (1671,) and Samson Agonistes (1671) were completed after he had gone blind. Scholars rate Paradise Lost the defining English epic, and interpret it as a political allegory—the fall of man in Eden echoes the lost paradise of Milton’s much-cherished Republic.

More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by John Milton

From man or angel the great Architect did wisely to conceal, and not divulge his secrets to be scanned by them who ought rather admire; or if they list to try conjecture, he his fabric of the heavens left to their disputes, perhaps to move his laughter at their quaint opinions wide hereafter, when they come to model heaven calculate the stars, how they will wield the mighty frame, how build, unbuild, contrive to save appearances, how gird the sphere with centric and eccentric scribbled o’er, and epicycle, orb in orb.
—John Milton
Topics: Science, Scientists

Methinks I see in my mind a noble and puissant nation rousing herself like a strong man after sleep, and shaking her invincible locks. Methinks I see her as an eagle mewing her mighty youth, and kindling her undazzled eyes at the full midday beam.
—John Milton
Topics: Nations, Nation, Nationalism, Nationality

To know that which lies before us in daily life is the prime wisdom.
—John Milton
Topics: Life

Smiles from reason flow, to brute denied, and are of love the food.
—John Milton
Topics: Smiles

Govern well thy appetite, lest Sin Surprise thee, and her black attendant Death.
—John Milton
Topics: Diet, Appetite

When lust, by unchaste looks, loose gestures, and foul talk, but most by lewd and lavish acts of sin, lets in defilement to the inward parts, the soul grows clotted by contagion, embodies and imbrutes till she quite lose the divine property of her first being.
—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
Topics: Disorder

What reinforcement we may gain from hope; If not, what resolution from despair.
—John Milton
Topics: Respectability, Respect

Where no hope is left, is left no fear.
—John Milton
Topics: Fear, Hope

Swinish gluttony ne’er looks to heaven amid his gorgeous feast, but with besotted, base ingratitude, crams and blasphemes his feeder.
—John Milton

Few sometimes may know, when thousands err.
—John Milton
Topics: Right, Rightness

Not to know me argues yourselves unknown.
—John Milton
Topics: Fame

Deep versed in books, but shallow in himself.
—John Milton
Topics: Reading, Books

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. 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
Topics: Reading, Books

Our country is where ever we are well off.
—John Milton
Topics: Home

Before the sun, before the heavens thou wert, and at the voice of God, as with a mantle didst invest the rising world of waters dark and deep won from the void and formless infinite.
—John Milton
Topics: Light

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
Topics: Country, Nature

With thee conversing I forget all time.
—John Milton
Topics: Conversation

Satan was the first that practised falsehood under saintly show.
—John Milton
Topics: Hypocrisy

A crown, golden in show, is but a wreath of thorns; brings danger, troubles, cares, and sleepless nights, to him who wears a regal diadem.
—John Milton
Topics: Leaders, Leadership, Kings

Good, the more communicated, more abundant grows.
—John Milton
Topics: Communication

Assuredly we bring not innocence not the world, we bring impurity much rather: that which purifies us is trial, and trial is by what is contrary.
—John Milton

Goodness thinks no ill where no ill seems.
—John Milton
Topics: Goodness

It is written, that the coat of our Saviour was without seam; whence some would infer, that there should be no division in the church of Christ. It should be so indeed; yet seams in the same cloth neither hurt the garment, nor misbecome it; and not only seams, but schisms will be while men are fallible.
—John Milton

Let none admire that riches grow in hell; that soil may best deserve the precious bane.
—John Milton
Topics: Wealth

Loneliness is the first thing which God’s eye named, not good
—John Milton
Topics: Loneliness

The golden sun, in splendor likest heaven, dispenses light from far; days, months, and years, toward his all-cheering lamp turn their swift motions, or are turned by his magnetic beam that warms the universe.
—John Milton

The best apology against false accusers is silence and sufferance, and honest deeds set against dishonest words.
—John Milton

Tears such as angels weep.
—John Milton
Topics: Crying, Tears

Hail wedded love, mysterious law, true source of human offspring, sole propriety in Paradise of all things common else. By thee adulterous lust was driven from men among the bestial herds to range; by thee founded in reason, loyal, just, and pure, relations dear, and all the charities of father, son, and brother first were known.
—John Milton
Topics: Marriage

Wondering Whom to Read Next?

Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *