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John Milton Quotes

Poet, Polemicist, and Civil Servant for the Commonwealth of England.
Born On
1608-12-09
Died On
1674-11-08
Birth Place
Cheapside, City of London, United Kingdom
Death Place
Chalfont St Giles
Birth Sign
sagittarius
Father
John Milton, Sr
Mother
Sarah Jeffrey
Spouse
Mary Powell
Nationality
British
Education
St. Paul's School, London, BA, Christ's College, Cambridge University (1625-29), MA, Christ's College, Cambridge University (1629-32)
Writers, Poets

One day Milton was paid a visit by two very famous personalities in England. One was John Dryden, who had been made the Poet Laureate, and the other was Member of Parliament, Edmund Waller. Milton knew how much Dryden admired his work, ‘Paradise Lost’, and thus received his uninvited guests quite cordially. During the course of conversation, the three gentlemen began discussing poetic rhythm and other aspects of linguistics used in poetry.

As reported by John Dryden, during this visit, the blind poet had confessed that he had been greatly influenced by the works of Edmund Spenser, the writer of ‘The Faerie Queene’. That is when the Poet Laureate requested Milton to grant his permission for adapting the latter’s epic, ‘Paradise Lost’ into rhyme. Milton replied, “'Well, Mr. Dryden, it seems you have a mind to tag my points, and you have my leave to tag them. But some of them are so awkward and old-fashioned that I think you had as good leave them as you found them.”

Though it was an ironic criticism of the poetic practices of the Restoration period, Milton also gave his consent to Dryden. The King of Restoration, as John Dryden is referred to, set to work and within a month completed ‘The State of Innocence’. The adaptation, written in rhyming couplets and meant for the stage, fared better than ‘Paradise Lost’ until the end of that century.

For what can war, but endless war, still breed?

John Milton

Who overcomes by force, hath overcome but half his foe.

John Milton

They also serve who only stand and wait.

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

True it is that covetousness is rich, modesty starves.

John Milton

To be blind is not miserable; not to be able to bear blindness, that is miserable.

John Milton

Give me the liberty to know, to utter, and to argue freely according to conscience, above all liberties.

John Milton

Death is the golden key that opens the palace of eternity.

John Milton

He who reigns within himself and rules passions, desires, and fears is more than a king.

John Milton

Gratitude bestows reverence, allowing us to encounter everyday epiphanies, those transcendent moments of awe that change forever how we experience life and the world.

John Milton

A good book is the precious lifeblood of a master spirit.

John Milton

When complaints are freely heard, deeply considered and speedily reformed, then is the utmost bound of civil liberty attained that wise men look for.

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

Nothing profits more than self-esteem, grounded on what is just and right.

John Milton

The superior man acquaints himself with many sayings of antiquity and many deeds of the past, in order to strengthen his character thereby.

John Milton

None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but licence.

John Milton

Who kills a man kills a reasonable creature, God's image, but thee who destroys a good book, kills reason its self.

John Milton

He that studieth revenge keepeth his own wounds green, which otherwise would heal and do well.

John Milton

Truth never comes into the world but like a bastard, to the ignominy of him that brought her birth.

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

The stars, that nature hung in heaven, and filled their lamps with everlasting oil, give due light to the misled and lonely traveller.

John Milton

Let not England forget her precedence of teaching nations how to live.

John Milton

No man who knows aught, can be so stupid to deny that all men naturally were born free.

John Milton

Deep-versed in books and shallow in himself.

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

Though we take from a covetous man all his treasure, he has yet one jewel left; you cannot bereave him of his covetousness.

John Milton

Love-quarrels oft in pleasing concord end.

John Milton