Our cure, to be no more; sad cure!
Interpretation
The quote reflects on the idea that sometimes the solution to suffering is simply to cease existence, which is a melancholic perspective.
This quote by John Milton highlights the paradox of seeking a cure for sorrow. It suggests that the ultimate escape from sadness might be the end of one's life itself, implying a deep sense of despair and the weight of emotional pain. Milton's words provoke contemplation about the nature of suffering and the extremes to which one might consider going to find relief.
In practice
This quote could be used in a literary discussion about the portrayal of despair in poetry.
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.
The sky lay over the city like a map showing the strata of things and the big full moon toppled over in a furrow like the abandoned wheel of a gun carriage on a sunset field of battle and the shadows walked like cats and I looked into the white and ghostly interior of things and thought of you and I looked on their structural outsides and thought of you and was lonesome.
[H]istory assures us that civilizations decay quite leisurely.
The problem of the Middle East is poverty more than politics.
When we quit thinking primarily about ourselves and our own self-preservation, we undergo a truly heroic transformation of consciousness.
Crimes are not to be measured by the issue of events, but by the bad intentions of men.
I would rather be adorned by beauty of character than jewels. Jewels are the gift of fortune, while character comes from within.
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