John Bartlett (1820–1905). Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. 1919.
2742 John Milton 1608-1674 John Bartlett
| NUMBER: | 2742 |
| AUTHOR: | John Milton (1608–1674) |
| QUOTATION: | Fame is the spur that the clear spirit doth raise 1 (That last infirmity of noble mind) To scorn delights, and live laborious days; But the fair guerdon when we hope to find, And think to burst out into sudden blaze, Comes the blind Fury with th’ abhorred shears And slits the thin-spun life. |
| ATTRIBUTION: | Lycidas. Line 70. |
| Note 1. Erant quibus appetentior famæ videretur, quando etiam sapientibus cupido gloriæ novissima exuitur (Some might consider him as too fond of fame, for the desire of glory clings even to the best of men longer than any other passion) [said of Helvidius Priscus].—Tacitus: Historia, iv. 6. [back] |