Skip to content
quotesby

About this quote

What does it mean?
Milton dismisses shallow pleasures as foolish products with no true origin.
In plain terms
False joys are foolish and worthless.
What can you take from it?
Avoid shallow pleasures that lack depth.

Where it applies

  • moral reflection
  • choice making
  • self-awareness

Putting it to work

  • seek true joy
  • avoid folly

Questions to consider

  • What joy feels false?
  • How do you measure worth?

Another view

Can be interpreted as overly austere.

More from John Milton

  1. Such strains as would have won the ear Of Pluto, to have quite set free His half-regained Eurydice. These delights, if thou canst give, Mirth, with thee, I mea…

    Permalink to quote #79
  2. The gay motes that people the sunbeams.

    Permalink to quote #81
  3. Untwisting all the chains that tie The hidden soul of harmony.

    Permalink to quote #78

Related quotes

  1. If solid happiness we prize, Within our breast this jewel lies, And they are fools who roam. The world has nothing to bestow; From our own selves our joys must…

    Nathaniel CottonNathaniel Cotton quote #1
  2. An object in possession seldom retains the same charm that it had in pursuit.

    Pliny the YoungerPliny the Younger quote #1
  3. Only a fool thinks price and value are the same.

    Antonio MachadoAntonio Machado quote #1