Quote
By John Milton
Better to reign in Hell, then serve in Heav'n.
- Source
- Paradise Lost, Book 1, 1667 · Book 1, line 263
- Read at
- John Milton, Paradise Lost (first published 1667; read in the John Milton Reading Room edition, ed. Thomas H. Luxon, Dartmouth College)
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About this quote
From Milton's epic poem Paradise Lost, Book 1, line 263. The words are spoken by Satan, who has just been thrown into Hell and is speaking to Beelzebub. They are a character's words in a poem, credited to Milton as the author. The 17th century text reads "then serve", not "than serve". The line follows "To reign is worth ambition though in Hell:".