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.
History is for human self-knowledge. Knowing yourself means knowing, first, what it is to be a person; secondly, knowing what it is to be the kind of person you are; and thirdly, knowing what it is to be the person you are and nobody else is. Knowing yourself means knowing what you can do; and since nobody knows what they can do until they try, the only clue to what man can do is what man has done. The value of history, then, is that it teaches us what man has done and thus what man is.
Contemplation is an alternative consciousness that refuses to identify with or feed what are only passing shows. It is the absolute opposite of addiction, consumerism or any egoic consciousness.
God made the water but men made the wine.
All wars are civil wars, because all men are brothers.
The Human Species could have been great but instead we became satisfied with lights on our tennis shoes.
I think perfect objectivity is an unrealistic goal; fairness, however, is not
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.