I cannot praise a fugitive and cloistered virtue, unexercised and unbreathed, that never sallies out and sees her adversary, but slinks out of the race where that immortal garland is to be run for, not without dust and heat.
Interpretation
True virtue requires action and facing challenges rather than remaining hidden or untouched.
This quote by John Milton emphasizes the importance of active engagement in the world to truly embody virtue. He criticizes a form of virtue that is passive or isolated, suggesting that genuine moral strength can only be cultivated through confrontation with adversity and enduring the trials that come with competition and a full life experience.
In practice
This quote can be used in a motivational speech to inspire people to take action in their lives.
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.
Posterity weaves no garlands for imitators.
The strongest symptom of wisdom in man is his being sensible of his own follies.
I said to my soul, be still, and wait without hope, For hope would be hope for the wrong thing.
To start from the self and try to understand all things is delusion. To let the self be awakened by all things is enlightenment.
Peace is a rare gift. Peace of mind, peaceful sleeps, and peaceful spirits are all luxuries that few rebels can ever afford.
A new idea is delicate. It can be killed by a sneer or a yawn; it can be stabbed to death by a quip and worried to death by a frown on the right man's brow.
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