Quotes from Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained

John Milton ·  400 pages

Rating: (6.5K votes)


“high words, that bore Semblance of worth not substance, gently”
― John Milton, quote from Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained


“who overcomes By force, hath overcome but half his foe.”
― John Milton, quote from Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained


“Son of Heav'n and Earth,
Attend: That thou art happy, owe to God,
That thou continu'st such, owe to thyself,
That is, to thy obedience; therein stand.
This was that caution giv'n thee; be advis'd.
God made thee perfect, not immutable;
And good he made thee, but to persevere
He left it in thy power, ordain'd thy will
By nature free, not overrul'd by Fate
Inextricable, or strict necessity;
Our voluntary service he requires,
Not our necessitated, such with him
Finds no acceptance, nor can find, for how
Can hearts, not free, be tri'd whether they serve
Willing or no, who will but what they must
By Destiny, and can no other choose?
Myself and all th'Angelic Host that stand
In sight of God enthron'd, our happy state
Hold, as you yours, while our obedience holds;
On other surety none; freely we serve,
Because wee freely love, as in our will
To love or not; in this we stand or fall:
And some are fall'n, to disobedience fall'n,
And so from Heav'n to deepest Hell; O fall
From what high state of bliss into what woe!
--Archangel Raphael to Adam, Paradise Lost Book V”
― John Milton, quote from Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained


“To reign is worth ambition though in Hell: Better to reign in Hell, then serve in Heav’n.”
― John Milton, quote from Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained


“Better to reign in Hell, then serve in Heav’n.”
― John Milton, quote from Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained



“Thus with the Year Seasons return, but not to me returns Day, or the sweet approach of Ev’n or Morn, Or sight of vernal bloom, or Summers Rose, Or flocks, or herds, or human face divine; But cloud in stead, and ever-during dark Surrounds me, from the chearful waies of men Cut off, and for the book of knowledg fair Presented with a Universal blanc Of Natures works to mee expung’d and ras’d, And wisdome at one entrance quite shut out.”
― John Milton, quote from Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained


“What in me is dark Illumine, what is low raise and support; That to the highth of this great Argument I may assert th’ Eternal Providence, And justifie the wayes of God to men.”
― John Milton, quote from Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained


About the author

John Milton
Born place: in Bread Street, Cheapside, London, England
Born date December 9, 1608
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