Sweet bird, that shun the noise of folly, most musical, most melancholy!
Interpretation
The quote celebrates a bird that avoids the foolishness of the world, representing beauty and sorrow in its music.
In this quote, John Milton reflects on the idea of an idealized bird that escapes the chaos and foolishness of life. The 'sweet bird' symbolizes purity and a deep emotional resonance, contrasting with the noise of folly that surrounds it. This image evokes themes of beauty and sadness, suggesting that true artistry comes from a place of introspection and distance from the trivial pursuits of society.
In practice
This quote could be used in a speech about the importance of artistic expression amidst societal chaos.
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.
The best books come from someplace inside. You don't write because you want to, but because you have to.
Poetry is for me Eucharistic. You take someone else's suffering into your body, their passion comes into your body, and in doing that you commune, you take communion, you make a community with others.
Good art theory must smell of the studio, although its language should differ from the household talk of painters and sculptors.
This is the role of writers: to turn their tears into a story - and perhaps into a prayer.
I have the words already. What I am seeking is the perfect order of words in the sentence. You can see for yourself how many different ways they might be arranged.
I've always believed in writing without a collaborator, because where two people are writing the same book, each believes he gets all the worry and only half the royalties.
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