So farewell hope, and with hope farewell fear,Farewell remorse: all good to me is lost;Evil,be thou my good.
Interpretation
The quote reflects a rejection of hope and moral remorse, embracing evil as a potential source of goodness in despair.
In this quote, John Milton expresses a deep sense of loss and abandonment of hope, indicating a profound philosophical shift towards embracing evil as an alternative to the pain associated with lost goodness. It suggests a resignation to despair where traditional moral guides are rejected in favor of a darker, perhaps more authentic experience of existence, questioning the nature of good and evil.
In practice
In a debate about the nature of good and evil, this quote can be used to illustrate a perspective that challenges conventional morality.
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.
If people say Jeet Kune Do is different from this or from that, then let the name of Jeet Kune Do be wiped out, for that is what it is, just a name. Please don't fuss over it.
If goodness has causes, it is not goodness; if it has effects, a reward, it is not goodness either. So goodness is outside the chain of cause and effect.
It is only on the condition of humility and reverence before the world that our species will be able to remain in it.
But would you kindly ponder this question: What would your good do if evil didn't exist, and what would the earth look like if all the shadows disappeared? After all, shadows are cast by things and people. Here is the shadow of my sword. But shadows also come from trees and living beings. Do you want to strip the earth of all trees and living things just because of your fantasy of enjoying naked light? You're stupid.
We should be rigorous in judging ourselves and gracious in judging others.
A person starts to live when he can live outside himself.
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