--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Who knows not Circe, The daughter of the…" description: "\"Who knows not Circe, The daughter of the Sun , whose charmed cup Whoever tasted, lost his upright shape, And downward fell into a groveling swine?\" — J..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fce/john-milton-191_charmed_who-knows-not-circe-the-daughter-of-the_606066.png" --- # Who knows not Circe, The daughter of the Sun , whose… ![“Who knows not Circe, The daughter of the Sun , whose charmed cup Whoever tasted, lost his upright shape, And downward fell into a groveling swine?” quote by John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fce/john-milton-191_charmed_who-knows-not-circe-the-daughter-of-the_606066.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fce/john-milton-191_charmed_who-knows-not-circe-the-daughter-of-the_606066.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fce/john-milton-191_charmed_who-knows-not-circe-the-daughter-of-the_606066.png) > “Who knows not Circe, The daughter of the Sun , whose charmed cup Whoever tasted, lost his upright shape, And downward fell into a groveling swine?” [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. Circe’s enchantment illustrates how alluring temptations can corrupt and reduce noble beings to base forms. **In simple terms:** Temptation can degrade virtue. Key Takeaway Beware seductive forces that diminish you. Themes temptation corruption transformation Mood cautionary dramatic Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - personal ambition - addiction - ethical decision‑making - leadership Key Concepts mythology human nature Questions to Reflect On - What temptations have you resisted? - How can you transform a corrupting influence? A Different Perspective Not all temptations are harmful; context matters. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Charmed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/charmed/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Circe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/circe/) [Circe Daughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/circe-daughter-4930739/) [Cups](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cups/) [Daughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/daughter/) [Groveling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/groveling/) [Groveling Swine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/groveling-swine-4930742/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Knows Circe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows-circe-4930740/) [Lost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lost/) [Shapes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shapes/) [Sun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sun/) [Sun Charmed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sun-charmed-4930741/) [Swine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/swine/) ## Related quotes > [“I would like to say that all the while I waited to break out, but the truth is, I'm afraid I might have floated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-miller/i-would-like-to-say-that-all-the-while-i-waited-to-break-out-but-the/) [Madeline Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-miller/) > [“Nature is magic, Medea, and magic is nature. It is the rawest essence of our world, a power infused by the divine when they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosie-hewlett/nature-is-magic-medea-and-magic-is-nature-it-is-the-rawest-essence-of/) [Rosie Hewlett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosie-hewlett/) > [“I already had a feeling I was screwed, seeing I was in sacrificial virgin attire and in a corral. But now I was thinking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/i-already-had-a-feeling-i-was-screwed-seeing-i-was-in-sacrificial/) [Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/) > [“Then I whispered, “I love you, my Lahn,” and heard the swift hiss of his intake of breath. Then he buried his face in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/then-i-whispered-i-love-you-my-lahn-and-heard-the-swift-hiss-of-his/) [Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/) > [“I did not pretend to be a mortal. I showed my lambent, yellow eyes at every turn. None of it made a difference. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-miller/i-did-not-pretend-to-be-a-mortal-i-showed-my-lambent-yellow-eyes-at/) [Madeline Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-miller/) > [“Oh dear,” Diandra muttered again as I looked down at the baby tiger in my arms. All I felt was the soft, thick fur…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/oh-dear-diandra-muttered-again-as-i-looked-down-at-the-baby-tiger-in/) [Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/) > [“It was work, day after day of it. Witchcraft is the same. I have laboured for centuries and still I have not mastered it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-miller/it-was-work-day-after-day-of-it-witchcraft-is-the-same-i-have/) [Madeline Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-miller/) > [“Take me home, take me home, take me home, I need to go home. Please, please, whatever magic is out there for me, let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/take-me-home-take-me-home-take-me-home-i-need-to-go-home-please/) [Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/) > [“I had stood beside my father's light, I had held Aeetes in my arms, and my bed was heaped with thick-woolled blankets woven by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-miller/i-had-stood-beside-my-father-s-light-i-had-held-aeetes-in-my-arms-and/) [Madeline Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-miller/) > [“ "I gave up a world for you." He glared at me, not giving me anything. I kept right on going. "I thought, perhaps,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/i-gave-up-a-world-for-you-he-glared-at-me-not-giving-me-anything-i/) [Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/) > [“I know who you are, daughter of the sun. All that the sea touches comes to me at last in the depths. I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-miller/i-know-who-you-are-daughter-of-the-sun-all-that-the-sea-touches-comes/) [Madeline Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-miller/) > [“I had not fooled myself with false hope. I was a goddess, and he a mortal, and both of us were imprisoned. But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-miller/i-had-not-fooled-myself-with-false-hope-i-was-a-goddess-and-he-a/) [Madeline Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-miller/) > [“The nymphs wafted around me. Their smothered laughter drifted down the halls. At least, I told myself, it was not their brothers, who would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-miller/the-nymphs-wafted-around-me-their-smothered-laughter-drifted-down-the/) [Madeline Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-miller/) > [“My eyes flew open and when they did, his dark ones, not looking detached, not blank, not impassive, but heated and turned on and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/my-eyes-flew-open-and-when-they-did-his-dark-ones-not-looking/) [Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/) > [“I will not be like a bird bred in a cage, I thought, too dull to fly even when the door stands open. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-miller/i-will-not-be-like-a-bird-bred-in-a-cage-i-thought-too-dull-to-fly/) [Madeline Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-miller/) ## 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 Charmed quotes > [It has always been thought perfectly womanly to be a scrub- woman in the Legislature and to take care of the spittoons; that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-b-anthony/it-has-always-been-thought-perfectly-womanly-to-be-a-scrub-woman-in/) [Susan B. Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-b-anthony/) > [I'm really proud to be part of it. I think it's great that the show came back. We have another generation to fall in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ser-darius-blain/i-m-really-proud-to-be-part-of-it-i-think-it-s-great-that-the-show/) [Ser'Darius Blain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ser-darius-blain/) > ['Simon' was such a charmed experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becky-albertalli/simon-was-such-a-charmed-experience/) [Becky Albertalli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becky-albertalli/) > [I don't believe in charmed lives. I think that tragedy is part of the lesson you learn to lift yourself up, to pick yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlize-theron/i-don-t-believe-in-charmed-lives-i-think-that-tragedy-is-part-of-the/) [Charlize Theron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlize-theron/) > [“The snake had charmed me”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-conrad/the-snake-had-charmed-me/) [Joseph Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-conrad/) > [The Prince, charmed with these words, and much more with the manner in which they were spoken, knew not how to show his joy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-perrault/the-prince-charmed-with-these-words-and-much-more-with-the-manner-in/) [Charles Perrault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-perrault/) > [No siren did ever so charm the ear of the listener as the listening ear has charmed the soul of the siren.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-taylor/no-siren-did-ever-so-charm-the-ear-of-the-listener-as-the-listening/) [Henry Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-taylor/) > [I'm living the life that I wanted to live and I'm loving every little thing that I do. Fortunately, I have had a very,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tarsem-singh/i-m-living-the-life-that-i-wanted-to-live-and-i-m-loving-every-little/) [Tarsem Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tarsem-singh/) > [When a High Explosive shell bursts in fifteen feet and does you no damage, you can bet your sweet life you bear a charmed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/when-a-high-explosive-shell-bursts-in-fifteen-feet-and-does-you-no/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [I am not a member of Fat Liberation, nor do I think that obesity is healthy. But I do believe that in many ways…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maeve-binchy/i-am-not-a-member-of-fat-liberation-nor-do-i-think-that-obesity-is/) [Maeve Binchy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maeve-binchy/) > [I'm a realist all the way. I'm too cynical to be an optimist. But I've lived too much of a charmed life so far…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-m-a-realist-all-the-way-i-m-too-cynical-to-be-an-optimist-but-i-ve/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [I didn't really get London until I read Dickens. Then I was charmed to death by it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/feist/i-didn-t-really-get-london-until-i-read-dickens-then-i-was-charmed-to/) [Feist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/feist/) > [Few rash of any modern nation have a proper sense of an aesthetical whole; they praise and blame by parts; they are charmed by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/few-rash-of-any-modern-nation-have-a-proper-sense-of-an-aesthetical/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [People were not charmed with Eglantine because she herself was charming, but because she was charmed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ada-leverson/people-were-not-charmed-with-eglantine-because-she-herself-was/) [Ada Leverson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ada-leverson/) > [Any day alive in this world is a charmed life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-donaldson/any-day-alive-in-this-world-is-a-charmed-life/) [Mark Donaldson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-donaldson/) [Browse all 132 Charmed quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/charmed/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Who knows not Circe, The daughter of the Sun , whose charmed cup Whoever tasted, lost his upright shape, And downward fell into a groveling swine?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Milton" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/who-knows-not-circe-the-daughter-of-the-sun-whose-charmed-cup-whoever/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Charmed" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/who-knows-not-circe-the-daughter-of-the-sun-whose-charmed-cup-whoever/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fce/john-milton-191_charmed_who-knows-not-circe-the-daughter-of-the_606066.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fce/john-milton-191_charmed_who-knows-not-circe-the-daughter-of-the_606066.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fce/john-milton-191_charmed_who-knows-not-circe-the-daughter-of-the_606066.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Who knows not Circe, The daughter of the Sun , whose charmed cup Whoever tasted, lost his upright shape, And…” — 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": "Who knows not Circe, The daughter...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/who-knows-not-circe-the-daughter-of-the-sun-whose-charmed-cup-whoever/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/who-knows-not-circe-the-daughter-of-the-sun-whose-charmed-cup-whoever/#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 } } ] } ```