Incens'd with indignation Satan stood Unterrify'd, and like a comet burn'd That fires the length of Ophiuchus huge In th' arctic sky, and from his horrid hair Shakes pestilence and war.
Interpretation
This quote portrays Satan's fierce and undaunted nature, likening him to a powerful comet that brings destruction.
In this excerpt from John Milton's work, Satan is depicted as a formidable figure, filled with anger and defiance. His presence is compared to a comet that streaks across the sky, signifying not only his destructive power but also his resilience, as he stands undeterred amidst chaos. The reference to 'pestilence and war' suggests the consequences of his wrath, symbolizing broader themes of conflict and tumult in the universe.
In practice
In a discussion about the nature of evil in literature, this quote from Milton could exemplify the embodiment of malevolence.
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 immediate future of man lies in the imagination and in seeking the dimension where the imagination can be expressed.
The surface of American society is covered with a layer of democratic paint, but from time to time one can see the old aristocratic colours breaking through.
Let us take a patriot, where we can meet him; and, that we may not flatter ourselves by false appearances, distinguish those marks which are certain, from those which may deceive; for a man may have the external appearance of a patriot, without the constituent qualities; as false coins have often lustre, though they want weight.
We don't have the time to completely be ourselves. We only have the room to be happy.
Money is a tool of exchange, which can't exist unless there are goods produced and men able to produce them. Money is the material shape of the principle that men who wish to deal with one another must deal by trade and give value for value.
The world in which we live can be understood as a result of muddle and accident; but if it is the outcome of deliberate purpose, the purpose must have been that of a fiend. For my part, I find accident a less painful and more plausible hypothesis.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.