Paradise Lost Quotes
- Freely we serve,
Because we freely love, as in our will
To love or not; in this we stand or fall. - View Quote Details on Freely we serve,
Because we freely love, as in our will
To… - The bright consummate flower. - View Quote Details on The bright consummate flower.
- With a smile that glow’d
Celestial rosy red, love’s proper hue. - View Quote Details on With a smile that glow’d
Celestial rosy red, love’s proper hue. - Vain wisdom all and false philosophy. - View Quote Details on Vain wisdom all and false philosophy.
- Yet from those flames
No light, but rather darkness visible. - View Quote Details on Yet from those flames
No light, but rather darkness visible. - Ofttimes nothing profits more
Than self-esteem, grounded on just and right
Well managed. - View Quote Details on Ofttimes nothing profits more
Than self-esteem, grounded on just and right
Well… - So gloz’d the tempter. - View Quote Details on So gloz’d the tempter.
- Now morn, her rosy steps in th’ eastern clime
Advancing, sow’d the earth with orient pearl,
When Adam wak’d, so custom’d; for his sleep
Was aery light, from pure digestion bred. - View Quote Details on Now morn, her rosy steps in th’ eastern clime
Advancing, sow’d… - And feel that I am happier than I know. - View Quote Details on And feel that I am happier than I know.
- The palpable obscure. - View Quote Details on The palpable obscure.
- So spake the seraph Abdiel, faithful found;
Among the faithless, faithful only he. - View Quote Details on So spake the seraph Abdiel, faithful found;
Among the faithless, faithful… - Innumerable as the stars of night,
Or stars of morning, dewdrops which the sun
Impearls on every leaf and every flower. - View Quote Details on Innumerable as the stars of night,
Or stars of morning, dewdrops… - The starry cope
Of heaven. - View Quote Details on The starry cope
Of heaven. - That in our proper motion we ascend
Up to our native seat: descent and fall
To us is adverse. - View Quote Details on That in our proper motion we ascend
Up to our native… - Pleas’d me, long choosing and beginning late. - View Quote Details on Pleas’d me, long choosing and beginning late.
- Two of far nobler shape erect and tall,
Godlike erect, with native honor clad
In naked majesty seemed lords of all. - View Quote Details on Two of far nobler shape erect and tall,
Godlike erect, with… - As Jupiter
On Juno smiles, when he impregns the clouds
That shed May flowers. - View Quote Details on As Jupiter
On Juno smiles, when he impregns the clouds
That shed… - And over them triumphant Death his dart
Shook, but delay’d to strike, though oft invok’d. - View Quote Details on And over them triumphant Death his dart
Shook, but delay’d to… - 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. - View Quote Details on Fairy elves,
Whose midnight revels by a forest side
Or fountain some… - God so commanded, and left that command
Sole daughter of his voice; the rest, we live
Law to ourselves, our reason is our law. - View Quote Details on God so commanded, and left that command
Sole daughter of his… - The angel ended, and in Adam’s ear
So charming left his voice that he awhile
Thought him still speaking, still stood fixed to hear. - View Quote Details on The angel ended, and in Adam’s ear
So charming left his… - To be weak is miserable,
Doing or suffering. - View Quote Details on To be weak is miserable,
Doing or suffering. - What if earth
Be but the shadow of heaven, and things therein
Each to other like, more than on earth is thought? - View Quote Details on What if earth
Be but the shadow of heaven, and things… - Golden days, fruitful of golden deeds,
With joy and love triumphing. - View Quote Details on Golden days, fruitful of golden deeds,
With joy and love triumphing. - Now conscience wakes despair
That slumber’d,—wakes the bitter memory
Of what he was, what is, and what must be
Worse. - View Quote Details on Now conscience wakes despair
That slumber’d,—wakes the bitter memory
Of what he… - Thoughts that voluntary move
Harmonious numbers. - View Quote Details on Thoughts that voluntary move
Harmonious numbers. - With grave
Aspect he rose, and in his rising seemed
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. - View Quote Details on With grave
Aspect he rose, and in his rising seemed
A pillar… - A gulf profound as that Serbonian bog
Betwixt Damiata and Mount Casius old,
Where armies whole have sunk: the parching air
Burns frore, and cold performs th’ effect of fire.
Thither by harpy-footed Furies hal’d,
At certain revolutions all the damn’d
Are brought, and feel by turns the bitter change
Of fierce extremes,—extremes by change more fierce;
From beds of raging fire to starve in ice
Their soft ethereal warmth, and there to pine
Immovable, infix’d, and frozen round,
Periods of time; thence hurried back to fire. - View Quote Details on A gulf profound as that Serbonian bog
Betwixt Damiata and Mount… - Now came still evening on, and twilight gray
Had in her sober livery all things clad;
Silence accompany’d; for beast and bird,
They to their grassy couch, these to their nests,
Were slunk, all but the wakeful nightingale;
She all night long her amorous descant sung;
Silence was pleas’d. Now glow’d the firmament
With living sapphires; Hesperus, that led
The starry host, rode brightest, till the moon,
Rising in clouded majesty, at length
Apparent queen unveil’d her peerless light,
And o’er the dark her silver mantle threw. - View Quote Details on Now came still evening on, and twilight gray
Had in her… - Millions of spiritual creatures walk the earth
Unseen, both when we wake, and when we sleep. - View Quote Details on Millions of spiritual creatures walk the earth
Unseen, both when we… - Sonorous metal blowing martial sounds:
At which the universal host up sent
A shout that tore hell’s concave, and beyond
Frighted the reign of Chaos and old Night. - View Quote Details on Sonorous metal blowing martial sounds:
At which the universal host up… - I fled, and cry’d out, DEATH!
Hell trembled at the hideous name, and sigh’d
From all her caves, and back resounded, DEATH! - View Quote Details on I fled, and cry’d out, DEATH!
Hell trembled at the hideous… - Another morn
Ris’n on mid-noon. - View Quote Details on Another morn
Ris’n on mid-noon. - Revenge, at first though sweet,
Bitter ere long back on itself recoils. - View Quote Details on Revenge, at first though sweet,
Bitter ere long back on… - What though the field be lost?
All is not lost; th’ unconquerable will,
And study of revenge, immortal hate,
And courage never to submit or yield. - View Quote Details on What though the field be lost?
All is not lost; th’… - 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 raised
To that bad eminence; and from despair
Thus high uplifted beyond hope, aspires
Beyond thus high, insatiate to pursue
Vain war with heav’n. - View Quote Details on High on a throne of royal state, which far
Outshone the… - Regions of sorrow, doleful shades, where peace
And rest can never dwell, hope never comes
That comes at all. - View Quote Details on Regions of sorrow, doleful shades, where peace
And rest can never… - As far as angels’ ken. - View Quote Details on As far as angels’ ken.
- Death…on his pale horse. - View Quote Details on Death…on his pale horse.
- The rising world of waters dark and deep. - View Quote Details on The rising world of waters dark and deep.
- I shall temper so
Justice with mercy. - View Quote Details on I shall temper so
Justice with mercy. - Far off his coming shone. - View Quote Details on Far off his coming shone.
- Their rising all at once was as the sound
Of thunder heard remote. - View Quote Details on Their rising all at once was as the sound
Of thunder… - The brazen throat of war. - View Quote Details on The brazen throat of war.
- Heaven open’d wide
Her ever during gates, harmonious sound,
On golden hinges moving. - View Quote Details on Heaven open’d wide
Her ever during gates, harmonious sound,
On golden hinges… - Him the Almighty Power
Hurled headlong flaming from th’ ethereal sky
With hideous ruin and combustion down
To bottomless perdition, there to dwell
In adamantine chains and penal fire,
Who durst defy th’ Omnipotent to arms. - View Quote Details on Him the Almighty Power
Hurled headlong flaming from th’ ethereal sky
With… - So may’st thou live, till like ripe fruit thou drop
Into thy mother’s lap. - View Quote Details on So may’st thou live, till like ripe fruit thou drop
Into… - The infernal serpent; he it was, whose guile,
Stirred up with envy and revenge, deceived
The mother of mankind. - View Quote Details on The infernal serpent; he it was, whose guile,
Stirred up with… - 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. - View Quote Details on Mammon, the least erected spirit that fell
From heaven; for… - A pillar’d shade
High overarch’d, and echoing walks between. - View Quote Details on A pillar’d shade
High overarch’d, and echoing walks between. - Servant of God, well done, well hast thou fought
The better fight, who single hast maintained
Against revolted multitudes the cause
Of truth, in word mightier than they in arms. - View Quote Details on Servant of God, well done, well hast thou fought
The better… - Who overcomes
By force, hath overcome but half his foe. - View Quote Details on Who overcomes
By force, hath overcome but half his foe. - Some natural tears they dropp’d, but wip’d them soon;
The world was all before them, where to choose
Their place of rest, and Providence their guide:
They hand in hand with wand’ring steps and slow
Through Eden took their solitary way. - View Quote Details on Some natural tears they dropp’d, but wip’d them soon;
The world… - The other shape,
If shape it might be call’d that shape had none
Distinguishable in member, joint, or limb;
Or substance might be call’d that shadow seem’d,
For each seem’d either,—black it stood as night,
Fierce as ten furies, terrible as hell,
And shook a dreadful dart; what seem’d his head
The likeness of a kingly crown had on.
Satan was now at hand. - View Quote Details on The other shape,
If shape it might be call’d that shape… - Squat like a toad, close at the ear of Eve. - View Quote Details on Squat like a toad, close at the ear of Eve.
- More safe I sing with mortal voice, unchanged
To hoarse or mute, though fall’n, and evil tongues;
In darkness, and with dangers compassed round,
And solitude. - View Quote Details on More safe I sing with mortal voice, unchanged
To hoarse or… - Anon out of the earth a fabric huge
Rose, like an exhalation. - View Quote Details on Anon out of the earth a fabric huge
Rose, like an… - His spear, to equal which the tallest pine
Hewn on Norwegian hills to be the mast
Of some great ammiral were but a wand,
He walk’d with to support uneasy steps
Over the burning marle. - View Quote Details on His spear, to equal which the tallest pine
Hewn on Norwegian… - Such joy ambition finds. - View Quote Details on Such joy ambition finds.
- Dark with excessive bright. - View Quote Details on Dark with excessive bright.
- Flowers worthy of paradise. - View Quote Details on Flowers worthy of paradise.
- To sit in darkness here
Hatching vain empires. - View Quote Details on To sit in darkness here
Hatching vain empires. - Hope elevates, and joy
Brightens his crest. - View Quote Details on Hope elevates, and joy
Brightens his crest. - Gorgons and Hydras and Chimæras dire. - View Quote Details on Gorgons and Hydras and Chimæras dire.
- And oft, though wisdom wake, suspicion sleeps
At wisdom’s gate, and to simplicity
Resigns her charge, while goodness thinks no ill
Where no ill seems. - View Quote Details on And oft, though wisdom wake, suspicion sleeps
At wisdom’s gate, and… - Incens’d with indignation Satan stood
Unterrify’d, and like a comet burn’d
That fires the length of Ophiuchus huge
In th’ arctic sky, and from his horrid hair
Shakes pestilence and war. - View Quote Details on Incens’d with indignation Satan stood
Unterrify’d, and like a comet burn’d
That… - Awake, arise, or be forever fallen! - View Quote Details on Awake, arise, or be forever fallen!
- To know
That which before us lies in daily life
Is the prime wisdom. - View Quote Details on To know
That which before us lies in daily life
Is the… - With centric and eccentric scribbled o’er,
Cycle and epicycle, orb in orb. - View Quote Details on With centric and eccentric scribbled o’er,
Cycle and epicycle, orb in… - A bevy of fair women. - View Quote Details on A bevy of fair women.
- Be lowly wise:
Think only what concerns thee and thy being. - View Quote Details on Be lowly wise:
Think only what concerns thee and thy being. - Moping melancholy
And moon-struck madness. - View Quote Details on Moping melancholy
And moon-struck madness. - In naked beauty more adorn’d,
More lovely than Pandora. - View Quote Details on In naked beauty more adorn’d,
More lovely than Pandora. - So he with difficulty and labour hard
Mov’d on, with difficulty and labour he. - View Quote Details on So he with difficulty and labour hard
Mov’d on, with difficulty… - Sabean odours from the spicy shore
Of Araby the Blest. - View Quote Details on Sabean odours from the spicy shore
Of Araby the Blest. - These are thy glorious works, Parent of good. - View Quote Details on These are thy glorious works, Parent of good.
- His form had yet not lost
All her original brightness, nor appear’d
Less than archangel ruin’d, and th’ excess
Of glory obscur’d. - View Quote Details on His form had yet not lost
All her original brightness, nor… - Among unequals what society
Can sort, what harmony, or true delight? - View Quote Details on Among unequals what society
Can sort, what harmony, or true delight? - Fairest of stars, last in the train of night,
If better thou belong not to the dawn. - View Quote Details on Fairest of stars, last in the train of night,
If better… - My sentence is for open War; Of Wiles,
More unexpert, I boast not: them let those
Contrive who need, or when they need, not now.
For while they sit contriving, shall the rest,
Millions that stand in Arms, and longing wait
The Signal to ascend, sit ling’ring here,
Heav’n’s fugitives, and for their dwelling place
Accept this dark opprobrious Den of shame,
The Prison of his Tyranny who Reigns
By our delay? no, let us rather choose,
Arm’d with Hell flames and fury all at once
O’er Heaven’s high Tow’rs to force resistless way,
Turning our Tortures into horrid Arms
Against the Torturer. - View Quote Details on My sentence is for open War; Of Wiles,
More unexpert, I… - So scented the grim Feature, and upturn’d
His nostril wide into the murky air,
Sagacious of his quarry from so far. - View Quote Details on So scented the grim Feature, and upturn’d
His nostril wide into… - Spirits when they please
Can either sex assume, or both. - View Quote Details on Spirits when they please
Can either sex assume, or both. - 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. - View Quote Details on But all was false and hollow; though his tongue
Dropp’d manna,… - Implied
Subjection, but required with gentle sway,
And by her yielded, by him best received,
Yielded with coy submission, modest pride,
And sweet reluctant amorous delay. - View Quote Details on Implied
Subjection, but required with gentle sway,
And by her yielded, by… - Now half appear’d
The tawny lion, pawing to get free
His hinder parts. - View Quote Details on Now half appear’d
The tawny lion, pawing to get free
His hinder… - Hail wedded love, mysterious law, true source
Of human offspring. - View Quote Details on Hail wedded love, mysterious law, true source
Of human offspring. - At shut of evening flowers. - View Quote Details on At shut of evening flowers.
- At whose sight all the stars
Hide their diminish’d heads. - View Quote Details on At whose sight all the stars
Hide their diminish’d heads. - With thee conversing I forget all time,
All seasons, and their change; all please alike.
Sweet is the breath of morn, her rising sweet,
With charm of earliest birds; pleasant the sun
When first on this delightful land he spreads
His orient beams on herb, tree, fruit, and flower,
Glist’ring with dew; fragrant the fertile earth
After soft showers; and sweet the coming on
Of grateful ev’ning mild; then silent night
With this her solemn bird and this fair moon,
And these the gems of heaven, her starry train:
But neither breath of morn when she ascends
With charm of earliest birds, nor rising sun
On this delightful land, nor herb, fruit, flower,
Glist’ring with dew, nor fragrance after showers,
Nor grateful ev’ning mild, nor silent night
With this her solemn bird, nor walk by moon
Or glittering starlight, without thee is sweet. - View Quote Details on With thee conversing I forget all time,
All seasons, and their… - A broad and ample road, whose dust is gold,
And pavement stars,—as stars to thee appear
Seen in the galaxy, that milky way
Which nightly as a circling zone thou seest
Powder’d with stars. - View Quote Details on A broad and ample road, whose dust is gold,
And pavement… - And, when night
Darkens the streets, then wander forth the sons
Of Belial, flown with insolence and wine. - View Quote Details on And, when night
Darkens the streets, then wander forth the sons
Of… - O fairest of creation! last and best
Of all God’s works! creature in whom excelled
Whatever can to sight or thought be formed,
Holy, divine, good, amiable, or sweet!
How art thou lost, how on a sudden lost,
Defaced, deflowered, and now to Death devote? - View Quote Details on O fairest of creation! last and best
Of all God’s works!… - For who can yet believe, though after loss,
That all these puissant legions, whose exile
Hath emptied Heaven, shall fail to re-ascend,
Self-raised, and repossess their native seat? - View Quote Details on For who can yet believe, though after loss,
That all these… - Flowers of all hue, and without thorn the rose. - View Quote Details on Flowers of all hue, and without thorn the rose.
- The evening star,
Love’s harbinger. - View Quote Details on The evening star,
Love’s harbinger. - And on the Tree of Life,
The middle tree and highest there that grew,
Sat like a cormorant. - View Quote Details on And on the Tree of Life,
The middle tree and highest… - 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. - View Quote Details on I feel
The link of nature draw me: flesh of flesh,
Bone… - Death
Grinn’d horrible a ghastly smile, to hear
His famine should be fill’d. - View Quote Details on Death
Grinn’d horrible a ghastly smile, to hear
His famine should be… - The hell within him. - View Quote Details on The hell within him.
- So farewell hope, and with hope farewell fear,
Farewell remorse; all good to me is lost.
Evil, be thou my good. - View Quote Details on So farewell hope, and with hope farewell fear,
Farewell remorse;… - Her virtue and the conscience of her worth,
That would be wooed, and not unsought be won. - View Quote Details on Her virtue and the conscience of her worth,
That would be…
About Paradise Lost
Paradise Lost (1667, 1674 ) is an epic poem by the 17th century English poet John Milton. The poem concerns the Christian story of the fall of Satan and his brethren and the rise of Man: the temptation of Adam and Eve by Satan and their expulsion from the Garden of Eden. Note that chapter and line references correspond with the 1674 version of the text, available online here.
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