Quotes from John Milton

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

Bacchus, that first from out the purple grape crush'd the sweet poison of misused wine.

And storied windows richly dight, Casting a dim religious light. There let the pealing organ blow, to the full-voiced choir below, in service high, and anthems clear as may, with sweetness, through mine ear dissolve me into ecstasies, and bring all Heaven before mine eyes.

Let none admire that riches grow in hell; that soil may best deserve the precious bane.

The conquer'd, also, and enslaved by war, Shall, with their freedom lost, all virtue lose.

The hungry sheep look up, and are not fed, But swoln with wind and the rank mist they draw, Rot inwardly, and foul contagion spread: Besides what the grim wolf with privy paw daily devours apace, and nothing said; but that two-handed engine at the door stands ready to smite once, and smite no more.

Though all the winds of doctrine were let loose to play upon the earth, so truth be in the field, we do injuriously, by licensing and prohibiting, to misdoubt her strength. Let her and falsehood grapple; who ever knew truth put to the worse, in a free and open encounter?

Or bid the soul of Orpheus sing such notes as, warbled to the string, Drew iron tears down Pluto's cheek.

Where glowing embers through the room teach light to counterfeit a gloom, Far from all resort of mirth, Save the cricket on the hearth.

Two of far nobler shape erect and tall, Godlike erect, with native honor clad In naked majesty seem'd lords of all.

At last he rose, and twitch'd his mantle blue: Tomorrow to fresh woods and pastures new.

His spear, to equal which the tallest pine Hewn on Norwegian hills, to be the mast of some great ammiral, were but a wand, He walk'd with, to support uneasy steps over the burning marle.