Quotes from book
Paradise Lost

Paradise Lost

John Milton

Paradise Lost is an epic poem in blank verse by the 17th-century English poet John Milton . The first version, published in 1667, consists of ten books with over ten thousand lines of verse. A second edition followed in 1674, arranged into twelve books with minor revisions throughout. It is considered by critics to be Milton's major work, and it helped solidify his reputation as one of the greatest English poets of his time.The poem concerns the biblical story of the Fall of Man: the temptation of Adam and Eve by the fallen angel Satan and their expulsion from the Garden of Eden. Milton's purpose, stated in Book I, is to "justify the ways of God to men."

“Better to reign in Hell, than to serve in Heaven.”

John Milton book Paradise Lost

Variant: Better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven.
Source: Paradise Lost

“Abashed the devil stood and felt how awful goodness is and saw Virtue in her shape how lovely: and pined his loss”

John Milton book Paradise Lost

Source: Paradise Lost

“And, when night
Darkens the streets, then wander forth the sons
Of Belial, flown with insolence and wine.”

John Milton book Paradise Lost

Source: Paradise Lost

“What in me is dark
Illumine, what is low raise and support,
That to the height of this great argument
I may assert eternal Providence,
And justify the ways of God to men. 1
Paradise Lost. Book i. Line 22.”

John Milton book Paradise Lost

i.17-26
Paradise Lost (1667)
Context: And chiefly Thou O Spirit, that dost prefer
Before all Temples th' upright heart and pure,
Instruct me, for Thou know'st; Thou from the first
Wast present, and with mighty wings outspread
Dove-like satst brooding on the vast Abyss
And mad'st it pregnant: 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.

“The mind is its own place, and in itself / Can make a Heaven of Hell, a Hell of Heaven. / What matter where, if I be still the same…”

John Milton book Paradise Lost

i.254-255
Paradise Lost (1667)
Variant: The mind is its own place, and in itself
Can make a heav'n of hell, a hell of heav'n.
Source: Paradise Lost: Books 1-2

“What though the field be lost?
All is not Lost; the unconquerable will,
And study of revenge, immortal hate,
And the courage never to submit or yeild.”

John Milton book Paradise Lost

Variant: All is not lost, the unconquerable will, and study of revenge, immortal hate, and the courage never to submit or yield.
Source: Paradise Lost

“Wild above rule or art, enormous bliss.”

John Milton book Paradise Lost

Source: Paradise Lost

“What is dark within me, illumine.”

John Milton book Paradise Lost

Source: Paradise Lost

“Be strong, live happy and love, but first of all
Him whom to love is to obey, and keep
His great command!”

John Milton book Paradise Lost

Source: Paradise Lost

“Our state cannot be severed, we are one,
One flesh; to lose thee were to lose myself.”

John Milton book Paradise Lost

Source: Paradise Lost

“What hath night to do with sleep?”

John Milton book Paradise Lost

Source: Paradise Lost

“Neither man nor angel can discern hypocrisy, the only evil that walks invisible except to God alone.”

John Milton book Paradise Lost

Source: Paradise Lost

“Should God create another Eve, and I
Another Rib afford, yet loss of thee
Would never from my heart; no no, I feel
The Link of Nature draw me: Flesh of Flesh,
Bone of my Bone thou art, and from thy State
Mine never shall be parted, bliss or woe.”

John Milton book Paradise Lost

Source: Paradise Lost

“To be weak is miserable,
Doing or suffering.”

John Milton book Paradise Lost

Source: Paradise Lost

“Knowledge forbidden?
Suspicious, reasonless. Why should their Lord
Envy them that? Can it be a sin to know?
Can it be death?”

John Milton book Paradise Lost

Source: Paradise Lost

“Never can true reconcilement grow where wounds of deadly hate have pierced so deep…”

John Milton book Paradise Lost

Source: Paradise Lost

“Our torments also may in length of time
Become our Elements.”

John Milton book Paradise Lost

Source: Paradise Lost

“Me miserable! Which way shall I fly
Infinite wrath and infinite despair?
Which way I fly is hell; myself am hell;
And in the lowest deep a lower deep,
Still threat'ning to devour me, opens wide,
To which the hell I suffer seems a heaven.”

John Milton book Paradise Lost

Source: Paradise Lost

“O sun, to tell thee how I hate thy beams
That bring to my remembrance from what state I fell, how glorious once above thy sphere.”

John Milton book Paradise Lost

Source: Paradise Lost

“For so I created them free and free they must remain.”

John Milton book Paradise Lost

Source: Paradise Lost

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