How oft, in nations gone corrupt, And by their own devices brought down to servitude, That man chooses bondage before liberty. Bondage with ease before strenuous liberty.
Interpretation
People often prefer comfort and security over the challenges that come with freedom.
In this quote, John Milton reflects on the tendency of individuals in corrupted societies to willingly choose the security of servitude over the demanding responsibility of liberty. This observation serves as a critique of human nature, suggesting that ease and the familiar comforts of bondage can appear more appealing than the arduous journey towards true freedom, even when such freedom is inherently valuable.
In practice
In a speech about personal growth, one could quote Milton to highlight how comfort zones can hinder true freedom.
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.
Curiously enough, it seems to be only in describing a mode of language which does not mean what it says that one can actually say what one means.
There is no scorn more profound, or on the whole more justifiable, than that of the men who make for the men who explain. Exposition, criticism, appreciation, is work for second-rate minds.
...there is one thing that all Satan's cunning and all the snares of temptation cannot take by surprise - an undivided will.
I grew up in a tough neighborhood and we used to say you can get further with a kind word and a gun than just a kind word.
Religion is everywhere. There are no human societies without it, whether they acknowledge it as a religion or not.
In economic life and history more generally, just about everything of consequence comes from black swans; ordinary events have paltry effects in the long term.
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