Quote by John Milton

I cannot praise a fugitive and cloistered virtue, unexercised and unbreathed, that never sallies out and sees her adversary, but slinks out of the race where that immortal garland is to be run for, not without dust and heat.


I cannot praise a fugitive and cloistered virtue, unexercise

Summary

This quote, attributed to English poet and prose writer John Milton, criticizes the idea of virtue remaining hidden and untested. Milton argues that virtue should not be confined or sheltered, as it needs real-world challenges and conflicts to emerge and be proven. This notion emphasizes the importance of actively engaging with the world and facing adversity, rather than avoiding it in an attempt to maintain an untainted and unchallenged state of virtue.

Topics

Virtue
By John Milton
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