--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Virtue may be assailed, but never hurt…" description: "\"Virtue may be assailed, but never hurt, Surprised by unjust force, but not enthralled; Yea even that which mischief meant most harm. Shall in the happy..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e1/john-milton-191_character_virtue-may-be-assailed-but-never-hurt-su_202144.png" --- # Virtue may be assailed, but never hurt, Surprised by… ![“Virtue may be assailed, but never hurt, Surprised by unjust force, but not enthralled; Yea even that which mischief meant most harm. Shall in the happy trial prove most glory” quote by John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e1/john-milton-191_character_virtue-may-be-assailed-but-never-hurt-su_202144.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e1/john-milton-191_character_virtue-may-be-assailed-but-never-hurt-su_202144.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e1/john-milton-191_character_virtue-may-be-assailed-but-never-hurt-su_202144.png) > “Virtue may be assailed, but never hurt, Surprised by unjust force, but not enthralled; Yea even that which mischief meant most harm. Shall in the happy trial prove most glory” [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. Virtue can be attacked but remains unscathed; unjust forces may surprise, yet virtue is not captivated, and even harmful mischief can ultimately reveal glory through trial. **In simple terms:** Virtue endures attacks and shows glory in trials. Key Takeaway Trust virtue’s resilience in adversity. Themes virtue resilience trials glory morality Mood determined reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal crises - legal battles - social injustice - ethical dilemmas Key Concepts Stoicism ethical endurance redemptive suffering Questions to Reflect On - How do you maintain integrity when faced with injustice? - What trials have revealed your inner strength? A Different Perspective Virtue may be compromised by external pressure despite inner strength. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Happy Trial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happy-trial-1375614/) [Harm Shall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harm-shall-1485953/) [Mischief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mischief/) [Mischief Meant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mischief-meant-2109047/) [Trial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trial/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) [Virtue Assailed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue-assailed-1463384/) ## Related quotes > [Virtue may be assailed, but never hurt, Surprised by unjust force, but not inthralled; Yea, even that which mischief meant most harm Shall in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/virtue-may-be-assailed-but-never-hurt-surprised-by-unjust-force-but-3/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [Peace of heart - without it, no good can make us happy. With it, every trial, even the approach of death, can be borne.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-ozanam/peace-of-heart-without-it-no-good-can-make-us-happy-with-it-every/) [Frederic Ozanam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-ozanam/) > [Virtue may be assailed, but never hurt, Surprised by unjust force, but not enthralled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/virtue-may-be-assailed-but-never-hurt-surprised-by-unjust-force-but-2/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [“If any harm shall befall him, I will come after you, and find you where you sleep. I do not care where you lay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/if-any-harm-shall-befall-him-i-will-come-after-you-and-find-you-where/) [J.R. 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All pigs are intelligent, emotional, and sensitive souls. They all love company. They all crave contact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sy-montgomery/i-never-met-a-pig-i-didn-t-like-all-pigs-are-intelligent-emotional/) [Sy Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sy-montgomery/) > [No man is exempt from saying silly things; the mischief is to say them deliberately.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/no-man-is-exempt-from-saying-silly-things-the-mischief-is-to-say-them/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) ## 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 Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. 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