License they mean when they cry, Liberty! For who loves that must first be wise and good.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- True liberty requires wisdom and goodness; crying out for freedom without these virtues is empty.
- In plain terms
- You must be wise and good to truly love liberty.
- What can you take from it?
- Cultivate virtue before claiming freedom.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What virtues do you need to value freedom correctly?
Another view
Not all who claim liberty are wise, but wisdom alone does not guarantee freedom.
More from John Milton
That would have made Quintilian stare and gasp.
Permalink to quote #49 What neat repast shall feast us, light and choice, Of Attic taste?
Permalink to quote #51 That old man eloquent.
Permalink to quote #48
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