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John Milton Quotes - Page 26

Fame is the spur that the clear spirit doth raise. That last infirmity of noble mind. To scorn delights, and live laborious days.

"Lycidas" l. 70 (1638). A 1619 play thought to be written by John Fletcher, Sir John van Olden Barnavelt act 1, sc. 1, refers to "the desire of glory (That last infirmity of noble minds)." That play was lost and not rediscovered until 1883, so Milton's parallel words were coincidental.

A short retirement urges a sweet return.

'Paradise Lost' (1667) bk. 9, l. 249

And what is faith, love, virtue unassayed Alone, without exterior help sustained?

John Milton, Edward Young, Thomas Gray, James Beattie, William Collins (1836). “The Poetical Works of Milton, Young, Gray, Beattie, and Collins”, p.65

Thrones, dominions, princedoms, virtues, powers-- If these magnific titles yet remain Not merely titular.

John Milton (1749). “Poetical works. A new ed. with notes of various authors by Thomas Newton. (With copper-plates.)”, p.249

Thick as autumnal leaves that strow the brooks In Vallombrosa, where th' Etrurian shades High over-arch'd imbower.

John Milton, James BUCHANAN (Grammarian.) (1773). “The First Six Books of Milton's Paradise Lost, Rendered Into Grammatical Construction ... With Notes ... To which are Prefixed Remarks on Ellipsis and Transposition ... By J. Buchanan”, p.45

We read not that Christ ever exercised force but once; and that was to drive profane ones out of his Temple, not to force them in.

John Milton (1851). “The Prose Works of John Milton: With a Biographical Introduction”, p.142

He 's gone, and who knows how he may report Thy words by adding fuel to the flame?

John Milton, Henry John Todd (1852). “The Poetical Works of John Milton: With Notes of Various Authors; and with Some Account of the Life and Writings of Milton, Derived Principally from Original Documents in Her Majesty's State-paper Office”, p.217

God shall be all in all.

John Milton, Henry John Todd (1826). “The poetical works of John Milton: With notes of various authors”, p.228

Evil into the mind of god or man may come and go, so unapproved, and leave no spot or blame behind.

John Milton, James BUCHANAN (Grammarian.) (1773). “The First Six Books of Milton's Paradise Lost, Rendered Into Grammatical Construction ... With Notes ... To which are Prefixed Remarks on Ellipsis and Transposition ... By J. Buchanan”, p.321