--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: So little knows Any, but God alone, but…" description: "\"So little knows Any, but God alone, but perverts best things To worst abuse, or to their meanest use.\" — John Milton" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b8/john-milton-191_abuse_so-little-knows-any-but-god-alone-but-pe_800943.png" --- # So little knows Any, but God alone, but perverts best… ![“So little knows Any, but God alone, but perverts best things To worst abuse, or to their meanest use.” quote by John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b8/john-milton-191_abuse_so-little-knows-any-but-god-alone-but-pe_800943.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b8/john-milton-191_abuse_so-little-knows-any-but-god-alone-but-pe_800943.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b8/john-milton-191_abuse_so-little-knows-any-but-god-alone-but-pe_800943.png) > “So little knows Any, but God alone, but perverts best things To worst abuse, or to their meanest use.” [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. Human frailty leads to misuse of blessings, turning good into harmful outcomes. **In simple terms:** People often misuse good things. Key Takeaway Guard against corrupting noble intentions. Themes human nature morality corruption divine Mood reflective cautionary Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - personal decisions - leadership - policy drafting - media messaging Key Concepts free will temptation ethical decay Questions to Reflect On - What safeguards prevent good from being perverted? - When does misuse become justified? A Different Perspective Not all misuse is intentional; context matters. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abuse/) [Abuse Meanest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abuse-meanest-2084616/) [Best things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-things/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [God Perverts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-perverts-6132991/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Perverts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perverts/) [Perverts Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perverts-best-5753890/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) [Worst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worst/) [Worst Abuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worst-abuse-1988477/) ## Related quotes > [“...So little knows Any but God alone to value right The good before him but perverts best things To worst abuse or to their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/so-little-knows-any-but-god-alone-to-value-right-the-good-before-him/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [What some of the early horror genre masters knew, and what I know, is that the audience are perverts, but in the best possible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fede-alvarez/what-some-of-the-early-horror-genre-masters-knew-and-what-i-know-is/) [Fede Alvarez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fede-alvarez/) > [Look, I've had some of the worst abuse, not just racism or Islamophobia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/humza-yousaf/look-i-ve-had-some-of-the-worst-abuse-not-just-racism-or-islamophobia/) [Humza Yousaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/humza-yousaf/) > [I had lived with abuse for many years, but the worst abuse has been at my own hands and the appalling situations I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-de-cadenet/i-had-lived-with-abuse-for-many-years-but-the-worst-abuse-has-been-at/) [Amanda de Cadenet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-de-cadenet/) > [“I'm seventeen; we're all perverts." - Jace Lightwood”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-m-seventeen-we-re-all-perverts-jace-lightwood/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [The instinct of acquisitiveness has more perverts, I believe, than the instinct of sex. At any rate, people seem to me odder about money…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/the-instinct-of-acquisitiveness-has-more-perverts-i-believe-than-the/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [“Perverts don’t perpetuate!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/perverts-don-t-perpetuate/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) > [Tweeting all your personal issues and accusing people of stalking is like getting naked on street and calling people perverts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/tweeting-all-your-personal-issues-and-accusing-people-of-stalking-is/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [“Perversion is just another form of art. It's like painting or drawing or sculpting. Except instead of paint, us perverts use sex as our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-m-stunich/perversion-is-just-another-form-of-art-it-s-like-painting-or-drawing/) [C.M. Stunich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-m-stunich/) > [“I know more damn perverts, at schools and all, than anybody you ever met, and they’re always being perverty when I’m around.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/i-know-more-damn-perverts-at-schools-and-all-than-anybody-you-ever/) [J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/) > [It's not my fault that people are perverts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-haines/it-s-not-my-fault-that-people-are-perverts/) [Emily Haines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-haines/) > [And the betrayers of language … n and the press gang And those who had lied for hire; The perverts, the perverters of language,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-pound/and-the-betrayers-of-language-n-and-the-press-gang-and-those-who-had/) [Ezra Pound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-pound/) > [“If we all knew that we were all perverts, we might be a lot happier.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-o-neill/if-we-all-knew-that-we-were-all-perverts-we-might-be-a-lot-happier/) [Heather O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-o-neill/) > [“Stick your dick in’?” I asked, my brows probably touching. “Did you actually just say that?” “Make love. I meant make love … of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kylie-scott/stick-your-dick-in-i-asked-my-brows-probably-touching-did-you/) [Kylie Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kylie-scott/) > [“but you men... you're all alike. Alive, dead, undead- all perverts! I had a drunken pervert in my pants! Do you know how unsanitary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeaniene-frost/but-you-men-you-re-all-alike-alive-dead-undead-all-perverts-i-had-a/) [Jeaniene Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeaniene-frost/) ## 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 Abuse quotes > [I wrote when I was a young teen, but I didn't put an eye on the available markets until I was seventeen. The next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reed/i-wrote-when-i-was-a-young-teen-but-i-didn-t-put-an-eye-on-the/) [Robert Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reed/) > [Amongst the financial Twitterati, the term 'muppets' has come to describe any client used and abused by some financial predator. I've adopted the term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/amongst-the-financial-twitterati-the-term-muppets-has-come-to/) [Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/) > [Being nice is okay,but don't allow anybody to abuse it...try to fight for your self when you know your on the right way...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-nice-is-okay-but-don-t-allow-anybody-to-abuse-it-try-to-fight/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Build a bridge over shame by teaching kids about sexual abuse. Give them a chance to run to us should they encounter it. Be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-byers-ruch/build-a-bridge-over-shame-by-teaching-kids-about-sexual-abuse-give/) [Carolyn Byers Ruch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-byers-ruch/) > [It is sure that those are most desirous of honour or glory who cry out loudest of its abuse and the vanity of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baruch-spinoza/it-is-sure-that-those-are-most-desirous-of-honour-or-glory-who-cry/) [Baruch Spinoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baruch-spinoza/) > [“The sole reason I stand to open it up now is that lots of people who are in pain just like I was, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-dsouza/the-sole-reason-i-stand-to-open-it-up-now-is-that-lots-of-people-who/) [Patricia Dsouza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-dsouza/) > [Democracy must be built through open societies that share information. When there is information, there is enlightenment. When there is debate, there are solutions.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atifete-jahjaga/democracy-must-be-built-through-open-societies-that-share-information/) [Atifete Jahjaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atifete-jahjaga/) > [I have a theory that all abuse, no matter what kind of abuse it is, is foremost an assault on the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-westover/i-have-a-theory-that-all-abuse-no-matter-what-kind-of-abuse-it-is-is/) [Tara Westover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-westover/) > [“Blaming therapy, social work and other caring professions for the confabulation of testimony of 'satanic ritual abuse' legitimated a programme of political and social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-salter/blaming-therapy-social-work-and-other-caring-professions-for-the/) [Michael Salter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-salter/) > [Finally, the scariest thing about abuse of any shape or form, is, in my opinion, not the abuse itself, but that if it continues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cumming/finally-the-scariest-thing-about-abuse-of-any-shape-or-form-is-in-my/) [Alan Cumming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cumming/) > [“Research on organised abuse emphasises the diversity of organised abuse cases, and the ways in which serious forms of child maltreatment cluster in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-salter/research-on-organised-abuse-emphasises-the-diversity-of-organised/) [Michael Salter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-salter/) > [“Stand up for yourself. 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They will mirror your actions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hadinet-tekie/words-are-free-it-does-not-mean-you-should-abuse-them-be-kind-with/) [Hadinet Tekie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hadinet-tekie/) > [My illness is one often characterized by dramatic overspending - in my case through frenzied shopping sprees, credit card abuse, excessive hoarding of unnecessary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-behrman/my-illness-is-one-often-characterized-by-dramatic-overspending-in-my/) [Andy Behrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-behrman/) [Browse all 3,113 Abuse quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abuse/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "So little knows Any, but God alone, but perverts best things To worst abuse, or to their meanest use.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Milton" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/so-little-knows-any-but-god-alone-but-perverts-best-things-to-worst/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Abuse" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/so-little-knows-any-but-god-alone-but-perverts-best-things-to-worst/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b8/john-milton-191_abuse_so-little-knows-any-but-god-alone-but-pe_800943.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b8/john-milton-191_abuse_so-little-knows-any-but-god-alone-but-pe_800943.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b8/john-milton-191_abuse_so-little-knows-any-but-god-alone-but-pe_800943.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“So little knows Any, but God alone, but perverts best things To worst abuse, or to their meanest use.” — 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": "So little knows Any, but God...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/so-little-knows-any-but-god-alone-but-perverts-best-things-to-worst/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/so-little-knows-any-but-god-alone-but-perverts-best-things-to-worst/#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 } } ] } ```