John Milton

Boast not of what thou would'st have done but do.

Flowers of all hue and without thorn the rose.

Where no hope is left is left no fear.

The mind is its own place and in itself can make a heaven of hell a hell of heaven.

Deep versed in books and shallow in himself.

Come and trip it as ye go On the light fantastic toe.

Servant of God well done! Well hast thou fought The better fight.

The childhood shows the man As morning shows the day.

Knowledge cannot defile nor consequently the books if the will and conscience be not defiled.

As good almost kill a man as kill a good book: who kills a man kills a reasonable creature God's image but he who destroys a good book kills reason itself kills the image of God as it were in the eye.

A good book is the precious life-blood of a master-spirit embalmed and treasured up on purpose to a life beyond life.

A good book is the precious life-blood of a master spirit embalmed and treasured up on purpose to a life beyond life.

To hear the lark begin his flight And singing startle the dull night. From his watchtower in the skies Til the dappled dawn doth rise.

Better to reign in hell than serve in heaven.

th' unconquerable will,/ And study of revenge, immortal hate,/ And courage never to submit or yield/ And what is else not to be overcome?

But first whom shall we sendIn search of this new world, whom shall we findSufficient? Who shall tempt, with wand'ring feetThe dark unbottomed infinite abyssAnd through the palpable obscure find outHis uncouth way, or spread his aery flightUpborne with indefatigable wingsOver the vast abrupt, ere he arriveThe happy isle?

But say I could repent and could obtaineBy Act of Grace my former state: how soonwould higth recal high thoughts; how soon unsaywhat feign'd submission swore: ease would recantvows made in pain, as violent and void. For never can true reconcilement growwhere wounds of deadly hate have pierced so deep:which would but lead me to a worse relapseand heavier fall: so should I purchase cleaveshort intermission bought with double smart:This knows my punisher; therefore as farfrom granting here, as I from begging peace:All hope excluded thus, behold in steadof us out-cast, exil'd, his new delight, Mankind created, and for his this World. So farewell Hope, and with Hope farwel Fear,Farewel Remorse: all Good to me is lost.

So spake the enemy of mankind, enclosedIn serpent, inmate bad! and toward EveAddressed his way: not with indented wave,Prone on the ground, as since; but on his rear,Circular base of rising folds, that toweredFold above fold, a surging maze! his headCrested aloft, and carbuncle his eyes;With burnished neck of verdant gold, erectAmidst his circling spires, that on the grassFloated redundant: pleasing was his shapeAnd lovely; never since of serpent-kindLovelier_