--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We should be wary what persecution we…" description: "\"We should be wary what persecution we raise against the living labors of public men, how we spill that seasoned life of man, preserved and stored up in..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/409/john-milton-191_book_we-should-be-wary-what-persecution-we-ra_589058.jpg" --- # We should be wary what persecution we raise against the… ![“We should be wary what persecution we raise against the living labors of public men, how we spill that seasoned life of man, preserved and stored up in books, since we see a kind of homicide may be thus committed, sometimes a martyrdom; and if it extend to the whole impression, a kind of massacre…” quote by John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/409/john-milton-191_book_we-should-be-wary-what-persecution-we-ra_589058.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/409/john-milton-191_book_we-should-be-wary-what-persecution-we-ra_589058.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/409/john-milton-191_book_we-should-be-wary-what-persecution-we-ra_589058.jpg) > “We should be wary what persecution we raise against the living labors of public men, how we spill that seasoned life of man, preserved and stored up in books, since we see a kind of homicide may be thus committed, sometimes a martyrdom; and if it extend to the whole impression, a kind of massacre, whereof the execution ends not in the slaying of an elemental life, but strikes at the ethereal and fifth essence, the breath of reason itself; slays an immortality rather than a life.” [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. The quote warns that suppressing ideas harms the intellectual spirit of society, not just individual lives. **In simple terms:** Censorship kills thought, not just people. Key Takeaway Protect free expression. Themes censorship intellectual freedom societal health Mood cautious reflective Type political philosophical When to use this quote - academic debate - legislative policy - media regulation - education curricula Key Concepts philosophy political theory ethics Questions to Reflect On - How does censorship affect societal progress? - What balances free speech with harmful content? A Different Perspective It may overlook the need for responsible discourse and the danger of harmful ideas. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Breaths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breaths/) [Committed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/committed/) [Committed Martyrdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/committed-martyrdom-4824999/) [Critics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/critics/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Elementals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elementals/) [Ends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ends/) [Essence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/essence/) [Ethereal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethereal/) [Execution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/execution/) [Fifth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fifth/) [Homicide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/homicide/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Immortality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immortality/) [Impression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impression/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Labor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labor/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life Of Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-of-man/) [Martyrdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/martyrdom/) [Martyrdom Extend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/martyrdom-extend-4824997/) [Massacres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/massacres/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Persecution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persecution/) [Raises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/raises/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Slaying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slaying/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/) [Spills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spills/) [Strikes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strikes/) [Wary Persecution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wary-persecution-4824998/) [Whole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole/) ## Related quotes > [Seasoned life of man preserved and stored up in books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/seasoned-life-of-man-preserved-and-stored-up-in-books/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [He scarce had ceased when the superior fiend Was moving toward the shore; his ponderous shield Ethereal temper, massy, large and round, Behind him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/he-scarce-had-ceased-when-the-superior-fiend-was-moving-toward-the/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [This having learnt, thou hast attained the sum Of wisdom; hope no higher, though all the stars Thou knew'st by name, and all th'ethereal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/this-having-learnt-thou-hast-attained-the-sum-of-wisdom-hope-no/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [A gulf profound as that Serbonian bog Betwixt Damiata and Mount Casius old, Where armies whole have sunk: the parching air Burns frore, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/a-gulf-profound-as-that-serbonian-bog-betwixt-damiata-and-mount/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [Th' ethereal mould Incapable of stain would soon expel Her mischief, and purge off the baser fire, Victorious. Thus repuls'd, our final hope Is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/th-ethereal-mould-incapable-of-stain-would-soon-expel-her-mischief/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [Julie Chen. She's my ultimate celebrity idol. I think she's one of the most amazing interviewers and hosts ever - and would kill to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-oakley/julie-chen-she-s-my-ultimate-celebrity-idol-i-think-she-s-one-of-the/) [Tyler Oakley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-oakley/) > [Wha-what?" Her eyes fluttered open. "Nothing," I shouted. "We're being followed by a slaying machine. Go back to sleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/wha-what-her-eyes-fluttered-open-nothing-i-shouted-we-re-being/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [Where's the point in fighting and slaying if you can make a friend out of anybeast instead of a foe?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-jacques/where-s-the-point-in-fighting-and-slaying-if-you-can-make-a-friend/) [Brian Jacques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-jacques/) > [Chang Tzu tells us of a persevering man who after three laborious years mastered the art of dragon-slaying. For the rest of his days,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/chang-tzu-tells-us-of-a-persevering-man-who-after-three-laborious/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [Life is too short to occupy oneself with the slaying of the slain more than once.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-huxley/life-is-too-short-to-occupy-oneself-with-the-slaying-of-the-slain/) [Thomas Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-huxley/) > [The warrior who had gone out from the lake to save his people by slaying the evil one was now just a boy sitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-grant/the-warrior-who-had-gone-out-from-the-lake-to-save-his-people-by/) [Michael Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-grant/) > [Ma'am," Magnus said, advancing. "I must counsel you not to exit the carriage while a demon-slaying is in progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/ma-am-magnus-said-advancing-i-must-counsel-you-not-to-exit-the/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Everything I try to do is about slaying that dragon of shame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-amstell/everything-i-try-to-do-is-about-slaying-that-dragon-of-shame/) [Simon Amstell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-amstell/) > [What is pure Bill? Or excellent or admirable? The death of a million people in a flood? God evidently through so. He is incapable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-dekker/what-is-pure-bill-or-excellent-or-admirable-the-death-of-a-million/) [Ted Dekker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-dekker/) > [THE ART OF PEACE is not easy. It is a fight to the finish, the slaying of evil desires and all falsehood within. On…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morihei-ueshiba/the-art-of-peace-is-not-easy-it-is-a-fight-to-the-finish-the-slaying/) [Morihei Ueshiba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morihei-ueshiba/) ## 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 Book quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. 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I should have written more books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/i-don-t-think-i-have-made-as-much-of-my-life-as-i-should-have-i/) [Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/) > [Some books are not read in the right way because they have skipped a stage of opinion, assume a crystallization of information in society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/some-books-are-not-read-in-the-right-way-because-they-have-skipped-a/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [“People talk about books that write themselves, and it's a lie. Books don't write themselves. It takes thought and research and a backache and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/people-talk-about-books-that-write-themselves-and-it-s-a-lie-books/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [There are great books in this world and great worlds in books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bronte/there-are-great-books-in-this-world-and-great-worlds-in-books/) [Anne Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bronte/) > [The purpose of this book is to supply, in the form suitable for laymen, guidance in the adoption and execution of an investment policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/the-purpose-of-this-book-is-to-supply-in-the-form-suitable-for-laymen/) [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) > [But I think that of all the literature that I studied, the book that did more than any other to fire my enthusiasm was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kwame-nkrumah/but-i-think-that-of-all-the-literature-that-i-studied-the-book-that/) [Kwame Nkrumah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kwame-nkrumah/) > [It's amazing to see things that are suggested in the book fully developed and so brilliantly realized through the artistry of the designers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/it-s-amazing-to-see-things-that-are-suggested-in-the-book-fully/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“But I’ve developed a great reputation for wisdom by ordering more books than I ever had time to read, and reading more books, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/but-i-ve-developed-a-great-reputation-for-wisdom-by-ordering-more/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) [Browse all 29,378 Book quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We should be wary what persecution we raise against the living labors of public men, how we spill that seasoned life of man, preserved and stored up in books, since we see a kind of homicide may be thus committed, sometimes a martyrdom; and if it extend to the whole impression, a kind of massacre, whereof the execution ends not in the slaying of an elemental life, but strikes at the ethereal and fifth essence, the breath of reason itself; slays an immortality rather than a life.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Milton" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/we-should-be-wary-what-persecution-we-raise-against-the-living-labors/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Book" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/we-should-be-wary-what-persecution-we-raise-against-the-living-labors/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/409/john-milton-191_book_we-should-be-wary-what-persecution-we-ra_589058.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/409/john-milton-191_book_we-should-be-wary-what-persecution-we-ra_589058.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/409/john-milton-191_book_we-should-be-wary-what-persecution-we-ra_589058.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We should be wary what persecution we raise against the living labors of public men, how we spill that…” — 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": "We should be wary what persecution...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/we-should-be-wary-what-persecution-we-raise-against-the-living-labors/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/we-should-be-wary-what-persecution-we-raise-against-the-living-labors/#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 } } ] } ```