--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sole reigning holds the tyranny of Heav'n." description: "\"Sole reigning holds the tyranny of Heav'n.\" — John Milton" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/461/john-milton-191_paradise-lost-book-1_sole-reigning-holds-the-tyranny-of-heav_1917169.png" --- # Sole reigning holds the tyranny of Heav'n. ![“Sole reigning holds the tyranny of Heav'n.” quote by John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/461/john-milton-191_paradise-lost-book-1_sole-reigning-holds-the-tyranny-of-heav_1917169.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/461/john-milton-191_paradise-lost-book-1_sole-reigning-holds-the-tyranny-of-heav_1917169.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/461/john-milton-191_paradise-lost-book-1_sole-reigning-holds-the-tyranny-of-heav_1917169.png) > “Sole reigning holds the tyranny of Heav'n.” [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. Absolute power leads to tyranny, even over divine realms. **In simple terms:** Power can become tyrannical. Key Takeaway Guard against unchecked authority. Themes power tyranny divine authority Mood cautionary thought‑provoking Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - government - religion - leadership - ethics - law Key Concepts political philosophy theology Questions to Reflect On - What checks prevent power from becoming tyrannical? - How does divine authority influence human governance? 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and Nature from her seat, Sighing through all her works, gave signs of woe That all was lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/earth-felt-the-wound-and-nature-from-her-seat-sighing-through-all-her/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [The work under our labour grows, Luxurious by restraint.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/the-work-under-our-labour-grows-luxurious-by-restraint/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [Here we may reign secure; and in my choice To reign is worth ambition, though in hell: Better to reign in hell than serve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/here-we-may-reign-secure-and-in-my-choice-to-reign-is-worth-ambition/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) ## 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 Paradise lost book 1 quotes > [Better to reign in hell than serve in heav'n.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/better-to-reign-in-hell-than-serve-in-heav-n/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [The work under our labour grows, Luxurious by restraint.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/the-work-under-our-labour-grows-luxurious-by-restraint/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [Earth felt the wound; and Nature from her seat, Sighing through all her works, gave signs of woe That all was lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/earth-felt-the-wound-and-nature-from-her-seat-sighing-through-all-her/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [Spirits when they please Can either sex assume, or both.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/spirits-when-they-please-can-either-sex-assume-or-both/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [Should God create another Eve, and I Another Rib afford, yet loss of thee Would never from my heart; no no, I feel The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/should-god-create-another-eve-and-i-another-rib-afford-yet-loss-of/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [Where peace And rest can never dwell, hope never comes, That comes to all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/where-peace-and-rest-can-never-dwell-hope-never-comes-that-comes-to/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [For Spirits when they please Can either sex assume, or both; so soft And uncompounded is their essence pure, Not tied or manacled with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/for-spirits-when-they-please-can-either-sex-assume-or-both-so-soft/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [Revenge, at first though sweet, Bitter ere long back on itself recoils.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/revenge-at-first-though-sweet-bitter-ere-long-back-on-itself-recoils/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [In dim eclipse, disastrous twilight sheds On half the nations, and with fear of change Perplexes monarchs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/in-dim-eclipse-disastrous-twilight-sheds-on-half-the-nations-and-with/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [Pandemonium, the high capital Of Satan and his peers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/pandemonium-the-high-capital-of-satan-and-his-peers/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [As in an organ from one blast of wind To many a row of pipes the soundboard breathes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/as-in-an-organ-from-one-blast-of-wind-to-many-a-row-of-pipes-the/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [To adore the conqueror, who now beholds Cherub and seraph rolling in the flood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/to-adore-the-conqueror-who-now-beholds-cherub-and-seraph-rolling-in/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [And out of good still to find means of evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/and-out-of-good-still-to-find-means-of-evil/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [Unless an age too late, or cold Climate, or years, damp my intended wing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/unless-an-age-too-late-or-cold-climate-or-years-damp-my-intended-wing/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [Here we may reign secure; and in my choice To reign is worth ambition, though in hell: Better to reign in hell than serve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/here-we-may-reign-secure-and-in-my-choice-to-reign-is-worth-ambition/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) [Browse all 30 Paradise lost book 1 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paradise-lost-book-1/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Sole reigning holds the tyranny of Heav'n.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Milton" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/sole-reigning-holds-the-tyranny-of-heav-n/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Paradise lost book 1" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/sole-reigning-holds-the-tyranny-of-heav-n/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/461/john-milton-191_paradise-lost-book-1_sole-reigning-holds-the-tyranny-of-heav_1917169.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/461/john-milton-191_paradise-lost-book-1_sole-reigning-holds-the-tyranny-of-heav_1917169.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/461/john-milton-191_paradise-lost-book-1_sole-reigning-holds-the-tyranny-of-heav_1917169.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Sole reigning holds the tyranny of Heav'n.” — 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": "Sole reigning holds the tyranny of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/sole-reigning-holds-the-tyranny-of-heav-n/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/sole-reigning-holds-the-tyranny-of-heav-n/#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 } } ] } ```