Sometime let gorgeous Tragedy In sceptred pall come sweeping by, Presenting Thebes, or Pelops' line, Or the tale of Troy divine.
Interpretation
The quote highlights the beauty and significance of tragic stories in art and literature.
In this excerpt from John Milton, the author invokes the notion that tragedy, represented through grand historical narratives like those of Thebes, Pelops, and Troy, holds a transformative power. By allowing these profound tales of suffering and hardship to enter our lives, we can appreciate the depths of human experience and the artistry involved in portraying such dramatic elements.
In practice
In a conversation about the power of storytelling, one might quote this to emphasize the importance of tragedy in art.
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.
I wish the stage were as narrow as the wire of a tighrope dancer so that no incompetent would dare step upon it.
I'm not about either entertaining or instructing. The entertaining and instructing are secondary fallout from the fundamental thing, which is basically to create an aesthetic object.
Mournful and yet grand is the destiny of the artist.
Because I sidestepped all the stereotypical roles, in a way I've made a career out of not being Asian - a lot of my roles weren't written as Asian - so there's an impulse in me that wants to take a U-turn and play a very grounded, real Asian character, maybe an immigrant.
I consider music like a mirage in the desert. You're obsessed with the ideal piece of music, and the more you think you're getting closer, it's not there.
Everything we see in the world is the creative work of women.
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