Let none admire that riches grow in hell; that soil may best deserve the precious bane.
Interpretation
Wealth can arise from undesirable circumstances, but it may not be truly valuable.
In this quote, John Milton suggests that riches can emerge even from the most unwholesome environments, implying that wealth derived from corruption or suffering lacks true worth. The phrase 'precious bane' encapsulates the idea that while such riches may be valued by some, they ultimately bring harm and do not foster genuine prosperity or happiness.
In practice
In a discussion about the ethics of wealth accumulation, one might reference this quote to highlight the moral implications of gaining riches from unethical means.
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.
Those who meet Jesus always experience either joy or its opposites, either foretastes of Heaven or foretastes of Hell. Not everyone who meets Jesus is pleased, and not everyone is happy, but everyone is shocked.
The history of free men is never really written by chance but by choice; their choice!
Old events have modern meanings; only that survives of past history which finds kindred in all hearts and lives.
With all their faults, trade unions have done more for humanity than any other organization of men that ever existed. They have done more for decency, for honesty, for education, for the betterment of the race, for the developing of character in men, than any other association of men.
Given the infinite number of coincidences that could happen, very few ever actually do. The universe exists in a coincidence-hating state of anti-fluke.
If aliens visit us, the outcome would be much as when Columbus landed in America, which didn't turn out well for the Native Americans.
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