Who kills a man kills a reasonable creature, God's image, but thee who destroys a good book, kills reason its self.
Interpretation
This quote emphasizes the value of literature and knowledge, suggesting that destroying a good book is akin to killing reason itself.
John Milton's quote articulates the deep connection between humanity, reason, and literature. While taking a life is a grave act against a rational being created in God's image, the act of destroying a good book is viewed as an even greater crime because it obliterates the repository of human thought and reason. Books serve as vessels of wisdom, culture, and understanding; thus, to destroy them is to attack the very essence of human rationality and enlightenment.
In practice
During a lecture on the importance of literature, this quote can be used to highlight why books are essential to society.
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.
Take the example of my daughter. A lot of people were speaking out about education when the Taliban were bombing schools in Swat Valley, but Malala's voice was like a crescendo. It spread all around the world. She was the smallest but her voice was the biggest, because she was speaking for herself.
When individual members and families immerse themselves in the scriptures regularly and consistently, β¦ other areas of activity will automatically come. Testimonies will increase. Commitment will be strengthened. Families will be fortified. Personal revelation will flow
Knowledge will forever govern ignorance; and a people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives.
You need, as a historian, essential triangulation from your subject and the only way you get that triangulation is through time.
It scares me to think that one day I'm not going to be in school anymore.
The old lessons (work, self-discipline, sacrifice, teamwork, fighting to achieve) aren't being taught by many people other than football coaches these days. The football coach has a captive audience and can teach these lessons because the communication lines between himself and his players are more wide open than between kids and parents. We better teach these lessons or else the country's future population will be made up of a majority of crooks, drug addicts, or people on relief.
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