For other things mild Heav'n a time ordains, And disapproves that care, though wise in show, That with superfluous burden loads the day, And when God sends a cheerful hour, refrains.
Interpretation
This quote emphasizes the importance of balance and the need to let go of burdensome worries to embrace joyful moments.
John Milton suggests that while life presents challenges and responsibilities, it is wise to avoid overloading oneself with unnecessary concerns. Instead, one should recognize when divine or fortunate moments occur and be willing to partake in them without the weight of excessive anxiety or rigid adherence to duty.
In practice
During a motivational speech to remind people to enjoy life and balance their responsibilities.
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.
There's nothing tragic about being fifty. Not unless you're trying to be twenty-five.
The profit we possess after study is to have become better and wiser.
Dangerously wellββ what an irony is this: it expresses precisely the doubleness, the paradox, of feeling βtoo well
Every event has a purpose and every setback its lesson. I have realized that failure, whether of the personal, professional or even spiritual kind, is essential to personal expansion. It brings inner growth and a whole host of psychic rewards. Never regret your past. Rather, embrace it as the teacher that it is.
This book, conceived in sorrow, composed in grief, and constructed at the brink of despair, contains my mind's best thoughts, and my soul's triumph over the powers of darkness.
You can run, run, run away from a lot of things in life, but you can't run away from yourself. And the key to happiness is to understand and accept who you are.
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