John Milton War Quotations

Who overcomes by force, hath overcome but half his foe.

For what can war, but endless war, still breed?

The brazen throat of war had ceased to roar, / All now was turned to jollity and game,/ To luxury and riot, feast and dance.

Now I see Peace to corrupt no less than war to waste.

Those whom reason hath equalled, force hath made supreme

What boots it at one gate to make defence, And at another to let in the foe?

Such bickerings to recount, met often in these our writers, what more worth is it than to chronicle the wars of kites or crows flocking and fighting in the air?

Heaven, the seat of bliss, Brooks not the works of violence and war.

A complete and generous education fits a man to perform justly, skillfully, and magnanimously all the offices, both public and private, of peace and war.

Where eldest Night And Chaos, ancestors of Nature, hold Eternal anarchy amidst the noise Of endless wars, and by confusion stand; For hot, cold, moist, and dry, four champions fierce, Strive here for mast'ry.

No war or battle sound Was heard the world around.

Incens'd with indignation Satan stood Unterrify'd, and like a comet burn'd That fires the length of Ophiuchus huge In th' arctic sky, and from his horrid hair Shakes pestilence and war.

My sentence is for open war.

The brazen throat of war.

The conquer'd, also, and enslaved by war, Shall, with their freedom lost, all virtue lose.

... then there was war in heaven. But it was not angels. It was that small golden zeppelin, like a long oval world, high up. It seemed as if the cosmic order were gone, as if there had come a new order, a new heavens above us: and as if the world in anger were trying to revoke it.

O shame to men! Devil with devil damned Firm concord holds, men only disagree Of creatures rational, though under hope Of heavenly grace: and God proclaiming peace, Yet live in hatred, enmity, and strife Among themselves, and levy cruel wars, Wasting the earth, each other to destroy: As if (which might induce us to accord) Man had not hellish foes enough besides, That day and night for his destruction wait.

Yet much remains To conquer still; peace hath her victories No less renowned then war, new foes arise Threatening to bind our souls with secular chains: Help us to save free conscience from the paw Of hireling wolves whose gospel is their maw.

To overcome in battle, and subdue Nations, and bring home spoils with infinite Man-slaughter, shall be held the highest pitch Of human glory.

Better to reign in hell than serve in heav'n.

Peace hath her victories, no less renowned than War.