The collection / 615 fragments

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Passages, proverbs, and questions carried across the ages.

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01c. 1641 AD

In dim eclipse, disastrous twilight sheds On half the nations, and with fear of change Perplexes monarchs.

John Milton / quote

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02c. 1641 AD

Thrice he assay'd, and thrice in spite of scorn Tears, such as angels weep, burst forth.

John Milton / quote

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03c. 1641 AD

Who overcomes By force, hath overcome but half his foe.

John Milton / quote

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04c. 1641 AD

Mammon, the least erected spirit that fell From heaven; for ev'n 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 enjoy'd In vision beatific.

John Milton / quote

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05c. 1641 AD

Let none admire That riches grow in hell: that soil may best Deserve the precious bane.

John Milton / quote

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06c. 1641 AD

Anon out of the earth a fabric huge Rose, like an exhalation.

John Milton / quote

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07c. 1641 AD

From morn To noon he fell, from noon to dewy eve,— A summer's day; and with the setting sun Dropp'd from the Zenith like a falling star.

John Milton / quote

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08c. 1641 AD

Fairy elves, Whose midnight revels by a forest side Or fountain some belated peasant sees, Or dreams he sees, while overhead the moon Sits arbitress.

John Milton / quote

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09c. 1641 AD

High on a throne of royal state, which far Outshone the wealth of Ormus and of Ind, Or where the gorgeous East with richest hand Showers on her kings barbaric pearl and gold, Satan exalted sat, by merit rais'd To that bad eminence.

John Milton / quote

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10c. 1641 AD

Surer to prosper than prosperity Could have assur'd us.

John Milton / quote

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11c. 1641 AD

The strongest and the fiercest spirit That fought in heaven, now fiercer by despair.

John Milton / quote

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12c. 1641 AD

Rather than be less, Car'd not to be at all.

John Milton / quote

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13c. 1641 AD

My sentence is for open war.

John Milton / quote

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14c. 1641 AD

That in our proper motion we ascend Up to our native seat: descent and fall To us is adverse.

John Milton / quote

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15c. 1641 AD

When the scourge Inexorable and the torturing hour Call us to penance.

John Milton / quote

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16c. 1641 AD

Which, if not victory, is yet revenge.

John Milton / quote

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17c. 1641 AD

But all was false and hollow; though his tongue Dropp'd manna, and could make the worse appear The better reason, to perplex and dash Maturest counsels.

John Milton / quote

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18c. 1641 AD

Th' ethereal mould Incapable of stain would soon expel Her mischief, and purge off the baser fire, Victorious. Thus repuls'd, our final hope Is flat despair.

John Milton / quote

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19c. 1641 AD

For who would lose, Though full of pain, this intellectual being, Those thoughts that wander through eternity, To perish rather, swallow'd up and lost In the wide womb of uncreated night?

John Milton / quote

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20c. 1641 AD

His red right hand.

John Milton / quote

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21c. 1641 AD

Unrespited, unpitied, unrepriev'd.

John Milton / quote

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22c. 1641 AD

The never-ending flight Of future days.

John Milton / quote

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23c. 1641 AD

Our torments also may in length of time Become our elements.

John Milton / quote

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24c. 1641 AD

With grave Aspect he rose, and in his rising seem'd A pillar of state; deep on his front engraven Deliberation sat, and public care; And princely counsel in his face yet shone, Majestic though in ruin: sage he stood, With Atlantean shoulders, fit to bear The weight of mightiest monarchies; his look Drew audience and attention still as night Or summer's noontide air.

John Milton / quote

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