Quotes from John Milton

For solitude sometimes is best society and short retirement urges sweet return.

His blessed count'nance; here I could frequent, With worship, place by place where he voutsaf'd Presence Divine, and to my Sons relate; On this Mount he appeerd, under this Tree Stood visible, among these Pines his voice I heard, here with him at this Fountain talk'd: So

And oh, Fair plant, said he, with fruit surcharged, Deigns none to ease thy load, and taste thy sweet, Nor God, nor Man? Is knowledge so despised? Or envy, or what reserve forbids to taste? Forbid who will, none shall from me withhold Longer thy offered good; why else set here?

Nor can I think that God, Creator wise, Though threatning, will in earnest so destroy Us his prime Creatures, dignifi'd so high, Set over all his Works, which in our Fall, For us created, needs with us must faile

This yet I apprehend not, why to those   Among whom God will deigne to dwell on Earth   So many and so various Laws are giv'n;   So many Laws argue so many sins   Among them; how can God with such reside?

If therefore the Father is the God of Christ and the same one is our God, and if there is no God but one, there can be no God beside the Father.

Ordain'd by thee, and this delicious place   For us too large, where thy abundance wants   Partakers, and uncropt falls to the ground.   But thou hast promis'd from us two a Race   To fill the Earth, who shall with us extoll   Thy goodness infinite, both

Henceforth His might we know, and know our own, So as not either to provoke, or dread New war provoked. Our better part remains To work in close design, by fraud or guile, What force effected not; that He no less At length from us may find, who overcomes By force, hath overcome but half his foe.

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;

In goodness and in power pre-eminent. Tell me how may I know him, how adore,? From whom I have that thus I move and live, And feel that I am happier than I know.

Celestial light, shine inward...that I may see and tell of things invisible to mortal sight

Mammon led them on - Mammon, the least erected spirit that fell From heaven - for even 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 enjoyed In vision beatific.