Skip to content

John Milton Quotes

1608–1674 England

John Milton (9 December 1608 – 8 November 1674) was an English poet, polemicist, man of letters, and a civil servant for the Commonwealth of England under Oliver Cromwell. He wrote at a time of religious flux and political upheaval, and is most famous for his epic poem Paradise Lost (1667), written in blank verse.

England
Essayists
Philosophers
Poets
Theologians

Also known as: Milton, Milton, John, Doctrine and Discipline of Divorce

Random John Milton quote

502 quotes

Joking decides great things,
Stronger and better oft than earnest can.

So Satan, whom repulse upon repulse
Met ever, and to shameful silence brought,
Yet gives not o'er, though desperate of success.

Paradise Regained (1671)

Their rising all at once was as the sound
Of thunder heard remote.

O'er the smooth enamell'd green
Where no print of step hath been.

Arms on armour clashing bray'd
Horrible discord, and the madding wheels
Of brazen chariots ray'd; dire was the noise
Of conflict.

Till morning fair
Came forth with pilgrim steps in amice gray.

Paradise Regained (1671)

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

Il Penseroso (1631)

In her face excuse
Came prologue, and apology too prompt.

For his sleep
Was aery light, from pure digestion bred.

The winds with wonder whist,
Smoothly the waters kisst.

Come and trip it as ye go,
On the light fantastic toe.

Nor jealousy
Was understood, the injur'd lover's hell.

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

Areopagitica (1644)

Though wisdom wake, suspicion sleeps
At wisdom's gate, and to simplicity
Resigns her charge, while goodness thinks no ill
Where no ill seems.

New Presbyter is but Old Priest writ Large.

On the new forcers of Conscience under the Long Parliament (1645)

Lawrence, of virtuous father virtuous son

To Mr. Lawrence (1656)

Where more is meant than meets the ear.

Il Penseroso (1631)

For neither man nor angel can discern
Hypocrisy, the only evil that walks
Invisible, except to God alone,
By his permissive will, through heav'n and earth.

Brightest seraph, tell
In which of all these shining orbs hath man
His fixed seat, or fixed seat hath none,
But all these shining orbs his choice to dwell.

I shall temper so justice with mercy.

Attribution

Quotes and notes from Wikiquote: John Milton (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0.