Son of Heav'n and Earth, Attend: that thou art happy, owe to God; That thou continuest such, owe to thyself, That is, to thy obedience; therein stand.
Interpretation
Happiness is a gift from God, but maintaining it depends on personal responsibility and obedience.
In this quote, John Milton emphasizes the dual nature of happiness as both a divine blessing and a personal achievement. While happiness is bestowed by a higher power, it is ultimately the individual's conduct and adherence to moral principles that sustain it, highlighting the importance of self-discipline and ethical behavior in leading a fulfilling life.
In practice
During a motivational speech about personal responsibility and growth.
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.
To control the breathing is to control the mind. With different patterns of breathing, you can fall in love, you can hate someone, you can feel the whole spectrum of feelings just by changing your breathing.
I thank fate for having made me born poor. Poverty taught me the true value of the gifts useful to life.
Wisdom is not a product of schooling but of the lifelong attempt to acquire it.
These possessions of a simpleton being the three I choose and cherish: to care, to be fair, to be humble.
As a vulnerability researcher, the greatest barrier I see is our low tolerance for vulnerability. We're almost afraid to be happy. We feel like it's inviting disaster.
No one ever was the poorer for giving
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