English · Proverb Candidate

Better to reign in hell than serve in heaven (John Milton, in Paradise Lost)

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Meaning · English

Traditional English proverbial phrase; full definition pending editorial review.

Where it’s used: Used Widespread English

Sources & notes

Listed on Wikipedia “List of proverbial phrases” (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-29); definition pending editorial review.

Common questions

What does “Better to reign in hell than serve in heaven (John Milton, in Paradise Lost)” mean?

Traditional English proverbial phrase; full definition pending editorial review.

Is “Better to reign in hell than serve in heaven (John Milton, in Paradise Lost)” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.

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