--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Nations grow corrupt, love bondage more…" description: "\"Nations grow corrupt, love bondage more than liberty; bondage with ease than strenuous liberty.\" — John Milton" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9da/john-milton-191_apathy_nations-grow-corrupt-love-bondage-more-t_2141324.png" --- # Nations grow corrupt, love bondage more than liberty… ![“Nations grow corrupt, love bondage more than liberty; bondage with ease than strenuous liberty.” quote by John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9da/john-milton-191_apathy_nations-grow-corrupt-love-bondage-more-t_2141324.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9da/john-milton-191_apathy_nations-grow-corrupt-love-bondage-more-t_2141324.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9da/john-milton-191_apathy_nations-grow-corrupt-love-bondage-more-t_2141324.png) > “Nations grow corrupt, love bondage more than liberty; bondage with ease than strenuous liberty.” [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Freedom is more valuable when earned through effort than when given easily, and people may prefer comfortable oppression over hard liberty. **In simple terms:** Hard‑won liberty is preferable to easy bondage. Key Takeaway Value effort in achieving freedom. Themes freedom effort choice politics Mood thoughtful critical Type philosophical political When to use this quote - government policy - personal decisions - social movements - education Key Concepts liberty human nature political philosophy Questions to Reflect On - Do you choose comfort over liberty? - How can societies encourage effortful freedom? A Different Perspective People may resist change even when it improves freedom. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Apathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apathy/) [Bondage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bondage/) [Bondage Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bondage-liberty-2038704/) [Ease](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ease/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Grow Corrupt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grow-corrupt-4459991/) [Grows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grows/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Love Bondage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-bondage-1605200/) [Nations Grow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations-grow-2833487/) ## Related quotes > [“But what more oft in Nations grown corrupt, And by thir vices brought to servitude, Than to love Bondage more than Liberty, Bondage with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/but-what-more-oft-in-nations-grown-corrupt-and-by-thir-vices-brought/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [How oft, in nations gone corrupt, And by their own devices brought down to servitude, That man chooses bondage before liberty. Bondage with ease…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/how-oft-in-nations-gone-corrupt-and-by-their-own-devices-brought-down/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [Nothing brings more pain than too much pleasure; nothing more bondage than too much liberty, (or libertinism.)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/nothing-brings-more-pain-than-too-much-pleasure-nothing-more-bondage/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Just remember, forgiveness is a way of setting yourself free of the bondage put on you by others. There is liberty to he had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracie-peterson/just-remember-forgiveness-is-a-way-of-setting-yourself-free-of-the/) [Tracie Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracie-peterson/) > [Nothing brings more pain than too much pleasure; nothing more bondage than too much liberty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/nothing-brings-more-pain-than-too-much-pleasure-nothing-more-bondage-2/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [There is no such thing as freedom on earth," he said. "Only different kinds of bondages. And comparative bondages. YOU think you are free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-is-no-such-thing-as-freedom-on-earth-he-said-only-different/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The job of the United Nations is to grow more flowers, more smiles and more beauty on the earth. Once effect is created, cause…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-ray/the-job-of-the-united-nations-is-to-grow-more-flowers-more-smiles-and/) [Amit Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-ray/) > [When nations grow old the Arts grow cold And commerce settles on every tree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/when-nations-grow-old-the-arts-grow-cold-and-commerce-settles-on/) [William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) > [He who is alone is happy. Do good to all, like everyone, but do not love anyone. It is a bondage, and bondage brings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/he-who-is-alone-is-happy-do-good-to-all-like-everyone-but-do-not-love/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [“The job of the united nations is to grow more flowers and more smiles on the earth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-ray/the-job-of-the-united-nations-is-to-grow-more-flowers-and-more-smiles/) [Amit Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-ray/) > [Christ liveth in me. And how great the difference...instead of bondage, liberty; instead of failure, quiet victories within; instead of fear and weakness, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hudson-taylor/christ-liveth-in-me-and-how-great-the-difference-instead-of-bondage/) [Hudson Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hudson-taylor/) > [The average age of the world's great civilizations has been two hundred years. These nations have progressed through the following sequence: from bondage to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-fraser-tytler/the-average-age-of-the-world-s-great-civilizations-has-been-two/) [Alexander Fraser Tytler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-fraser-tytler/) > [Rhime being no necessary Adjunct or true Ornament of Poem or good Verse, in longer Works especially, but the Invention of a barbarous Age,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/rhime-being-no-necessary-adjunct-or-true-ornament-of-poem-or-good/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [The awakening of the soul to its bondage and its effort to stand up and assert itself - this is called life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/the-awakening-of-the-soul-to-its-bondage-and-its-effort-to-stand-up/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Just a decade after 'Living in Bondage,' Nollywood films, made in some 300 languages, were being watched in both urban and rural areas, distributed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-flock/just-a-decade-after-living-in-bondage-nollywood-films-made-in-some/) [Elizabeth Flock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-flock/) ## More by John Milton > [Love-quarrels oft in pleasing concord end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/love-quarrels-oft-in-pleasing-concord-end/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [What better can we do than prostrate fall before Him reverent, and there confess humbly our faults, and pardon beg with tears watering the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/what-better-can-we-do-than-prostrate-fall-before-him-reverent-and/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [And, when night Darkens the streets, then wander forth the sons Of Belial, flown with insolence and wine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/and-when-night-darkens-the-streets-then-wander-forth-the-sons-of/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [And, re-assembling our afflicted powers, consult how we may henceforth most offend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/and-re-assembling-our-afflicted-powers-consult-how-we-may-henceforth/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [Yet hold it more humane, more heav'nly, first, By winning words to conquer willing hearts, And make persuasion do the work of fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/yet-hold-it-more-humane-more-heav-nly-first-by-winning-words-to/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [O nightingale, that on yon bloomy spray Warblest at eve, when all the woods are still; Thou with fresh hope the lover's heart dost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/o-nightingale-that-on-yon-bloomy-spray-warblest-at-eve-when-all-the/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [The debt immense of endless gratitude, So burthensome, still paying, still to owe; Forgetful what from him I still receivd, And understood not that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/the-debt-immense-of-endless-gratitude-so-burthensome-still-paying/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [Knowledge forbidden? Suspicious, reasonless. Why should their Lord Envy them that? Can it be sin to know, Can it be death? And do they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/knowledge-forbidden-suspicious-reasonless-why-should-their-lord-envy/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [There is no truth sure enough to justify persecution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/there-is-no-truth-sure-enough-to-justify-persecution/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [These eyes, tho' clear To outward view of blemish or of spot, Bereft of light, their seeing have forgot, Nor to their idle orbs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/these-eyes-tho-clear-to-outward-view-of-blemish-or-of-spot-bereft-of/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [New Presbyter is but Old Priest writ Large.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/new-presbyter-is-but-old-priest-writ-large/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [And what is faith, love, virtue unassayed Alone, without exterior help sustained?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/and-what-is-faith-love-virtue-unassayed-alone-without-exterior-help/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [This is servitude, To serve th'unwise, or him who hath rebelled Against his worthier, as thine now serve thee, Thyself not free, but to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/this-is-servitude-to-serve-th-unwise-or-him-who-hath-rebelled-against/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [Let us seek Death, or he not found, supply With our own hands his office on ourselves; Why stand we longer shivering under fears,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/let-us-seek-death-or-he-not-found-supply-with-our-own-hands-his/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [They are the troublers, they are the dividers of unity, who neglect and don't permit others to unite those dissevered pieces which are yet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/they-are-the-troublers-they-are-the-dividers-of-unity-who-neglect-and/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) [Explore all 966 John Milton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) ## More Apathy quotes > [If possible, I want to hear POLITICS defined without either sympathy or apathy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/if-possible-i-want-to-hear-politics-defined-without-either-sympathy/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) > [One response was given by the innkeeper when Mary and Joseph wanted to find a room where the Child could be born. The innkeeper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/one-response-was-given-by-the-innkeeper-when-mary-and-joseph-wanted/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [Try to greet troubles with apathy. Hello's are never what they used to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-swellers/try-to-greet-troubles-with-apathy-hello-s-are-never-what-they-used-to/) [The Swellers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-swellers/) > [Apathy can be overcome by enthusiasm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-j-toynbee/apathy-can-be-overcome-by-enthusiasm/) [Arnold J. Toynbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-j-toynbee/) > [Indifference must be a crime in us, to be ranked but one degree below treachery; for deserting the commonwealth is next to betraying it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-st-john-1st-viscount-bolingbroke/indifference-must-be-a-crime-in-us-to-be-ranked-but-one-degree-below/) [Henry St John, 1st Viscount Bolingbroke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-st-john-1st-viscount-bolingbroke/) > [Insect politics, indifferent universe. Bang your head against the wall, but apathy is worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-henley/insect-politics-indifferent-universe-bang-your-head-against-the-wall/) [Don Henley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-henley/) > [“And there's a freedom in apathy, a wild, dizzying liberation on which you can almost get drunk.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-shriver/and-there-s-a-freedom-in-apathy-a-wild-dizzying-liberation-on-which/) [Lionel Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-shriver/) > [For he who is not deaf, half a silence is enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-malfatti/for-he-who-is-not-deaf-half-a-silence-is-enough/) [Jean-Paul Malfatti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-malfatti/) > [“Just because a person is silent doesn’t mean there’s no message.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-sonnenberg/just-because-a-person-is-silent-doesn-t-mean-there-s-no-message/) [Frank Sonnenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-sonnenberg/) > [“If someone with a high level of authority were to ask me, "Suzy, how can we make people so incredibly stupid and apathetic, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/if-someone-with-a-high-level-of-authority-were-to-ask-me-suzy-how-can/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [“It takes more than one kick in the pants to reverse a lifetime of unplanned apathy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-neilan/it-takes-more-than-one-kick-in-the-pants-to-reverse-a-lifetime-of/) [Paul Neilan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-neilan/) > [“Use the apathy of your logic to solve your problems and then the passion of your soul to enjoy life after that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelos-michalopoulos/use-the-apathy-of-your-logic-to-solve-your-problems-and-then-the/) [Angelos Michalopoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelos-michalopoulos/) > [“The fundamental basis by which the court’s decision might be made is, in itself, imperfect and subject to contradictions. There is very little consideration…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashim-shanker/the-fundamental-basis-by-which-the-court-s-decision-might-be-made-is/) [Ashim Shanker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashim-shanker/) > [“The young woman had read a good many novels, and she had seen a good many films; this education by newspaper, serial and film…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-renard/the-young-woman-had-read-a-good-many-novels-and-she-had-seen-a-good/) [Maurice Renard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-renard/) > [Mourn not the dead that in the cool earth lie... But rather mourn the apathetic throng - The cowed and the meek - Who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-chaplin/mourn-not-the-dead-that-in-the-cool-earth-lie-but-rather-mourn-the/) [Ralph Chaplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-chaplin/) [Browse all 619 Apathy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apathy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Nations grow corrupt, love bondage more than liberty; bondage with ease than strenuous liberty.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Milton" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/nations-grow-corrupt-love-bondage-more-than-liberty-bondage-with-ease/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Apathy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/nations-grow-corrupt-love-bondage-more-than-liberty-bondage-with-ease/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9da/john-milton-191_apathy_nations-grow-corrupt-love-bondage-more-t_2141324.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9da/john-milton-191_apathy_nations-grow-corrupt-love-bondage-more-t_2141324.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9da/john-milton-191_apathy_nations-grow-corrupt-love-bondage-more-t_2141324.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Nations grow corrupt, love bondage more than liberty; bondage with ease than strenuous liberty.” — John Milton", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "John Milton", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Nations grow corrupt, love bondage more...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/nations-grow-corrupt-love-bondage-more-than-liberty-bondage-with-ease/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/nations-grow-corrupt-love-bondage-more-than-liberty-bondage-with-ease/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```