Paradise Lost

by John Milton

The mind is its own place, and in itself 255 Can make a Heaven of Hell, a Hell of Heaven.

Better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven.

Freely they stood who stood, and fell who fell.

For neither Man nor Angel can discern Hypocrisy,

And oft, though wisdom wake, suspicion sleeps At wisdom’s gate, and to simplicity Resigns her charge, while goodness thinks no ill Where no ill seems:

Freely we serve, Because we freely love, as in our will 540 To love or not; in this we stand or fall:

And force upon free will hath here no place.