It is Chastity, my brother. She that has that is clad in complete steel.
Interpretation
Chastity is a powerful virtue that protects and strengthens one's character.
In this quote, John Milton personifies chastity as a formidable force, suggesting that it serves as both a shield and a source of strength for individuals. By likening chastity to being 'clad in complete steel', he emphasizes its protective qualities, implying that those who value and embody chastity are armoured against moral challenges and temptations.
In practice
During a speech about personal values, one might quote Milton to underline the importance of virtue.
They, looking back, all the eastern side beheld Of Paradise, so late their happy seat, Waved over by that flaming brand, the gate With dreadful faces thronged and fiery arms: Some natural tears they dropped, but wiped them soon; The world was all before them, where to choose Their place of rest, and Providence their guide; They, hand in hand, with wandering steps and slow, Through Eden took their solitary way.
The stars, that nature hung in heaven, and filled their lamps with everlasting oil, give due light to the misled and lonely traveller.
Ev'n them who kept thy truth so pure of old, When all our fathers worshipp'd stocks and stones.
Abashed the devil stood and felt how awful goodness is and saw Virtue in her shape how lovely: and pined his loss
The end of all learning is to know God, and out of that knowledge to love and imitate Him.
Apt words have power to suage the tumors of a troubled mind.
Fools may our scorn, not envy, raise. For envy is a kind of praise.
Believe that life is worth living and your belief will help create the fact.
Do not base your life on the likings and dislikings or whims of others. What you are in life - whether you enjoy or suffer - it is your own responsibility. Be regular in your meditation and do not postpone for a later date your striving for God consciousness.
A man's own good breeding is the best security against other people's ill manners.
His priority did not seem to be to teach them what he knew, but rather to impress upon them that nothing, not even... knowledge, was foolproof.
No man can be a pure specialist without being in the strict sense an idiot.
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