--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: So shall the world go on, To good…" description: "\"So shall the world go on, To good malignant, to bad men benign, Under her own weight groaning.\" — John Milton" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e9/john-milton-191_benign_so-shall-the-world-go-on-to-good-maligna_532109.png" --- # So shall the world go on, To good malignant, to bad men… ![“So shall the world go on, To good malignant, to bad men benign, Under her own weight groaning.” quote by John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e9/john-milton-191_benign_so-shall-the-world-go-on-to-good-maligna_532109.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e9/john-milton-191_benign_so-shall-the-world-go-on-to-good-maligna_532109.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e9/john-milton-191_benign_so-shall-the-world-go-on-to-good-maligna_532109.png) > “So shall the world go on, To good malignant, to bad men benign, Under her own weight groaning.” [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. Describes the world’s indifferent continuation despite moral extremes. **In simple terms:** The world keeps turning regardless of good or evil. Key Takeaway Accept life's impartial flow. Themes existence morality indifference Mood reflective melancholic Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - personal hardship - societal change - historical events - daily routines Key Concepts philosophical determinism ethical relativism Questions to Reflect On - Do you think moral actions affect the world’s course? - How do you respond to indifferent circumstances? A Different Perspective It overlooks human agency to influence outcomes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Malignant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/malignant/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Weight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weight/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [With the arrogance of youth, I thought, 'I don't drink, don't smoke, I don't do drugs, so why would I get cancer?' The week…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jameela-jamil/with-the-arrogance-of-youth-i-thought-i-don-t-drink-don-t-smoke-i-don/) [Jameela Jamil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jameela-jamil/) > [“Roman Catholicism is a broken and utterly desperate thing, capable only of malignant mischief in our awakening world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-g-wells-2/roman-catholicism-is-a-broken-and-utterly-desperate-thing-capable/) [H.G. Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-g-wells-2/) > [Words are most malignant, the most treacherous possession of mankind. They are saturated with the sorrows of all time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-sullivan/words-are-most-malignant-the-most-treacherous-possession-of-mankind/) [Louis Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-sullivan/) > [“There is no such source and cause of strife, quarrel, fights, malignant opposition, persecution, and war, and all evil in the state, as religion.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-is-no-such-source-and-cause-of-strife-quarrel-fights-malignant/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“He answered with a smile. The darkest and most malignant I had ever seen, too strong to be voluntary. The door, I thought. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-oyeyemi/he-answered-with-a-smile-the-darkest-and-most-malignant-i-had-ever/) [Helen Oyeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-oyeyemi/) > [The disease of jealously is so malignant that is converts all it takes into its own nourishment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/the-disease-of-jealously-is-so-malignant-that-is-converts-all-it/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [“When my mom was first diagnosed with cancer, I learned the word "malignant" and heard the word "spread" and knew the word "hope" was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-blackstone/when-my-mom-was-first-diagnosed-with-cancer-i-learned-the-word/) Matt Blackstone > [“Like so many of life's varieties of experience, the novelty of a diagnosis of malignant cancer has a tendency to wear off. The thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/like-so-many-of-life-s-varieties-of-experience-the-novelty-of-a/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [“The late Alan Gregg pointed out that human population growth within the ecosystem was closely analogous to the growth of malignant tumor cells within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marston-bates/the-late-alan-gregg-pointed-out-that-human-population-growth-within/) [Marston Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marston-bates/) > [Crack'd in pieces by malignant Death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/crack-d-in-pieces-by-malignant-death/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [The jealous man's disease is of so malignant a nature, that it converts all it takes into its own nourishment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/the-jealous-man-s-disease-is-of-so-malignant-a-nature-that-it/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [“I've come to realize that resentment is malignant. That it starts small and festers. That it grows wild and unfettered inside of you until…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-jenkins-reid/i-ve-come-to-realize-that-resentment-is-malignant-that-it-starts/) [Taylor Jenkins Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-jenkins-reid/) > [...of all the kinds of decay in this world, decadent purity is the most malignant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yukio-mishima/of-all-the-kinds-of-decay-in-this-world-decadent-purity-is-the-most/) [Yukio Mishima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yukio-mishima/) > [Viewed from the summit of reason, all life looks like a malignant disease and the world like a madhouse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/viewed-from-the-summit-of-reason-all-life-looks-like-a-malignant/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [You can only do so much grunting and groaning and then you're done, you know?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-t-nelson/you-can-only-do-so-much-grunting-and-groaning-and-then-you-re-done/) [Craig T. Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-t-nelson/) ## 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 Benign quotes > [The plausible outcomes range from the gradual and benign to the more precipitous and damaging.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-geithner/the-plausible-outcomes-range-from-the-gradual-and-benign-to-the-more/) [Timothy Geithner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-geithner/) > [Whereas religions may serve a benign purpose by letting many people feel comfortable with the level of morality they themselves can attain, no religion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-dennett/whereas-religions-may-serve-a-benign-purpose-by-letting-many-people/) [Daniel Dennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-dennett/) > [Factory-farm lobbyists are so powerful and so well funded and they do everything in their power to hide the truth about farming. They keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moby/factory-farm-lobbyists-are-so-powerful-and-so-well-funded-and-they-do/) [Moby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moby/) > [Fame is indeed beautiful and benign and gentle and satisfying, but happiness is something at once tender and brilliant beyond all things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-maclane/fame-is-indeed-beautiful-and-benign-and-gentle-and-satisfying-but/) [Mary MacLane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-maclane/) > [Cultural institutions by and large share one primary objective: herd control. Even when ostensibly benign, their propensity for manipulation, compartmentalization, standardization and suppression of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/cultural-institutions-by-and-large-share-one-primary-objective-herd/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [Every single empire in its official discourse has said that it is not like all the others, that its circumstances are special, that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-said/every-single-empire-in-its-official-discourse-has-said-that-it-is-not/) [Edward Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-said/) > [Acid wasn't getting a whole lot of bad press at the time, and as I saw the whole bad-press thing happen, I became aware…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-rettig/acid-wasn-t-getting-a-whole-lot-of-bad-press-at-the-time-and-as-i-saw/) [Tommy Rettig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-rettig/) > [Beneficent spirals, operating by benign feedback, mean that everything needful is not required at once: each individual improvement is beneficial for the whole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-jacobs/beneficent-spirals-operating-by-benign-feedback-mean-that-everything/) [Jane Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-jacobs/) > [I looked up at the mass of signs and stars in the night sky and laid myself open for the first time to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/i-looked-up-at-the-mass-of-signs-and-stars-in-the-night-sky-and-laid/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [Orders can be benign or malign, but the habit of obeying them can become ingrained.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-dalrymple/orders-can-be-benign-or-malign-but-the-habit-of-obeying-them-can/) [Theodore Dalrymple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-dalrymple/) > [Intelligence may indeed be a benign influence creating isolated groups of philosopher-kings far apart in the heavens... On the other hand, intelligence may be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freeman-dyson/intelligence-may-indeed-be-a-benign-influence-creating-isolated/) [Freeman Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freeman-dyson/) > [Every major player is working on this technology of artificial intelligence. As of now, it's benign... but I would say that the day is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-bell/every-major-player-is-working-on-this-technology-of-artificial/) [Ted Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-bell/) > [Of course, I prefer organic farming to chemical-dependent farming, but sometimes absolutist organic prescriptions go too far. I don't even rule out the possibility…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tristram-stuart/of-course-i-prefer-organic-farming-to-chemical-dependent-farming-but/) [Tristram Stuart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tristram-stuart/) > [How do you survive living in a cell knowing you are innocent? 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