--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What hither brought us, hate, not love…" description: "\"“ What hither brought us, hate, not love, nor hope Of Paradise for Hell, hope here to taste Of pleasure, but all pleasure to destroy, Save what ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e88/john-milton-191_hell_what-hither-brought-us-hate-not-love-nor_2454557.png" --- # What hither brought us, hate, not love, nor hope Of… ![“What hither brought us, hate, not love, nor hope Of Paradise for Hell, hope here to taste Of pleasure, but all pleasure to destroy, Save what is in destroying, other joy To me is lost. Then” quote by John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e88/john-milton-191_hell_what-hither-brought-us-hate-not-love-nor_2454557.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e88/john-milton-191_hell_what-hither-brought-us-hate-not-love-nor_2454557.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e88/john-milton-191_hell_what-hither-brought-us-hate-not-love-nor_2454557.png) > ““  What hither brought us, hate, not love, nor hope   Of Paradise for Hell, hope here to taste   Of pleasure, but all pleasure to destroy,   Save what is in destroying, other joy   To me is lost. Then”” [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 desire for pleasure leads to destruction, yet hope persists amid loss, reflecting the paradox of suffering and aspiration. **In simple terms:** Pleasure can destroy, hope remains. Key Takeaway Balance desire with purpose. Themes hope desire destruction Mood melancholic hopeful Type poetic philosophical When to use this quote - moral dilemmas - spiritual crises - creative writing Key Concepts existential paradox human nature Questions to Reflect On - What drives you to seek pleasure despite risk? - How can hope survive loss? A Different Perspective Hope may be fragile when loss is great. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Destroying Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destroying-joy-599801/) [Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hell/) [Joy Lost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy-lost-599800/) [Paradise Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paradise-hell-286412/) [Pleasure Destroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasure-destroy-599802/) ## Related quotes > [“ALAS, IF ALL HUMANS WERE WISE AND HAD MORE GOOD WILL THE WORLD WOULD BE A PARADISE NOW IT IS MOSTLY A HELL”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvin-d-yalom/alas-if-all-humans-were-wise-and-had-more-good-will-the-world-would/) [Irvin D. Yalom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvin-d-yalom/) > [A time will come when you will find that in gaining a brief joy you have lost your peace forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/a-time-will-come-when-you-will-find-that-in-gaining-a-brief-joy-you/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [Joy, once lost, is pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/joy-once-lost-is-pain/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [If love is killed, joy is lost. You cannot have joy without love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nirmala-srivastava/if-love-is-killed-joy-is-lost-you-cannot-have-joy-without-love/) [Nirmala Srivastava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nirmala-srivastava/) > [We can't be miserable all the time. I think just as human beings, we have to find joy or else all is lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cord-jefferson/we-can-t-be-miserable-all-the-time-i-think-just-as-human-beings-we/) [Cord Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cord-jefferson/) > [I have a faithful joy and a joy that is lost. One is like a rose, the other, a thorn. The one that was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriela-mistral/i-have-a-faithful-joy-and-a-joy-that-is-lost-one-is-like-a-rose-the/) [Gabriela Mistral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriela-mistral/) > [“In other words, when all the supports of human life and earthly happiness are taken away, God will be our delight, our joy. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/in-other-words-when-all-the-supports-of-human-life-and-earthly/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [People can either create paradise or Hell on earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/people-can-either-create-paradise-or-hell-on-earth/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Jealousy is the dragon in paradise; the hell of heaven; and the most bitter of the emotions because associated with the sweetest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/jealousy-is-the-dragon-in-paradise-the-hell-of-heaven-and-the-most/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Through clever and constant application of propaganda, people can be made to see paradise as hell, and also the other way round, to consider…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/through-clever-and-constant-application-of-propaganda-people-can-be/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [“For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened. …" No sooner are they open than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-cioran/for-god-doth-know-that-in-the-day-ye-eat-thereof-then-your-eyes-shall/) [Emil Cioran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-cioran/) > [The way to paradise is an uphill climb whereas hell is downhill. Hence, there is a struggle to get to paradise and not to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-ghazali/the-way-to-paradise-is-an-uphill-climb-whereas-hell-is-downhill-hence/) [Al-Ghazali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-ghazali/) > [“I discovered that those who want their property to be respected, have an interest in preaching the existence of paradise and hell, and in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/i-discovered-that-those-who-want-their-property-to-be-respected-have/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [“Its ghetto paradise for some and hell on earth for others!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/habeeb-akande/its-ghetto-paradise-for-some-and-hell-on-earth-for-others/) [Habeeb Akande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/habeeb-akande/) > [Even if you are in paradise, it is still hell if you are all alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/even-if-you-are-in-paradise-it-is-still-hell-if-you-are-all-alone/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) ## 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 Hell quotes > [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. 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How could there be God in loneliness when God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-thayer-hamann/hell-is-only-loneliness-a-place-without-play-for-the-soul-a-place/) [Hilary Thayer Hamann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-thayer-hamann/) > [Just when I thought that I was gtting better, boy was I wrong.. Things just turned to hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cupecake/just-when-i-thought-that-i-was-gtting-better-boy-was-i-wrong-things/) [Cupecake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cupecake/) > [I believe that on any trip to heaven, there are always detours through hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-finney/i-believe-that-on-any-trip-to-heaven-there-are-always-detours-through/) [Richard Finney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-finney/) > [Every saved person this side of heaven owes the gospel to every lost person this side of hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-platt/every-saved-person-this-side-of-heaven-owes-the-gospel-to-every-lost/) [David Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-platt/) > [I'm what is known as gradually disintegrating. I don't fear the next world, or anything. I don't fear hell, and I don't look forward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-hepburn/i-m-what-is-known-as-gradually-disintegrating-i-don-t-fear-the-next/) [Katharine Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-hepburn/) > [Hey...Hey...What's up?. Nothing much, you? Nothing. K!..What the hell was the point of this communication?...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/hey-hey-what-s-up-nothing-much-you-nothing-k-what-the-hell-was-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ Except in these latter-day songs, \[Bob\] Dylan is a grizzled old prophet who's already been to hell and back. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-michaelson/except-in-these-latter-day-songs-bob-dylan-is-a-grizzled-old-prophet/) [Jay Michaelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-michaelson/) > [...it was a huge creature, luminous, ghastly, and spectral. I have cross-examined these men, one of them a hard-headed countryman, one a farrier, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/it-was-a-huge-creature-luminous-ghastly-and-spectral-i-have-cross/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [“ALAS, IF ALL HUMANS WERE WISE AND HAD MORE GOOD WILL THE WORLD WOULD BE A PARADISE NOW IT IS MOSTLY A HELL”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvin-d-yalom/alas-if-all-humans-were-wise-and-had-more-good-will-the-world-would/) [Irvin D. 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