What am I pondering, you ask? So help me God, immortality.
Interpretation
The quote reflects a deep contemplation on the concept of immortality and the significance it holds in human thought.
In this quote by John Milton, the speaker reveals that they are engaged in a profound thought about immortality, suggesting that the concept is of great importance to them. The invocation of divine help emphasizes the weightiness of the idea, as pondering immortality often leads to existential questions about life, purpose, and what lies beyond death.
In practice
During a lecture on philosophy, one might use this quote to initiate a discussion on the implications of immortality.
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.
A Christian should resemble a fruit tree with real fruit, not a Christmas tree with decorations tied on
Whenever nature leaves a hole in a person's mind, she generally plasters it over with a thick coat of self-conceit.
This universe, which is the same for all, has not been made by any god or man, but it always has been, is, and will be an ever-living fire, kindling itself by regular measures and going out by regular measures.
Most animals are pragmatic about mysteries: If they run across something they don't understand, all they care about is whether it's edible and whether it's dangerous. Humans, on the other hand, are drawn to the mystery for its own sake.
Even as I think of myself as a 'rememberer,' I also know my memory is probably doing all this work to reconstruct a narrative where I come off better.
The dangers of not thinking clearly are much greater now than ever before. It's not that there's something new in our way of thinking - it's that credulous and confused thinking can be much more lethal in ways it was never before.
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