Recent Gleanings from Milton

“The end then of learning is to repair the ruins of our first parents by regaining to know God aright, and out of that knowledge to love him, to imitate him, to be like him, as we may the nearest by possessing our souls of true virtue, which being united to the heavenly grace of faith makes up the highest perfection.” 

"Long is the way and hard, that out of hell leads up to light."

“None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license.”

“Virtue may be assailed, but never hurt, surprised by unjust force, but not enthralled.”

“Sweet is the breath of morn, her rising sweet, with charm of earliest birds.”

“Good, the more communicated, more abundant grows.”

“Though all the winds of doctrine were let loose to play upon the earth, if Truth be in the field, we do injuriously by licensing and prohibiting to misdoubt her strength. Let her and Falsehood grapple; who ever knew Truth put to the worse, in a free and open encounter.”

“Where there is much desire to learn, there of necessity will be much arguing, much writing, many opinions; for opinion in good men is but knowledge in the making.”

“The first and wisest of them all professed to know this only, that he nothing knew.”

“Heav'nly love shall outdo Hellish hate.”

“For liberty hath a sharp and double edge, fit only to be handled by just and virtuous men; to bad and dissolute, it becomes a mischief unwieldy in their own hands.”