40 Exquisite William Blake Quotes
William Blake (born November 28, 1757, London, England – died August 12, 1827, London, England) was an English writer, artist, and one of the key figures of the Romantic Age.
His most notable works include Songs of Innocence and of Experience (1789), The Marriage of Heaven and Hell (1790), Visions of the Daughters of Albion (1793), The First Book of Urizen (1794), Vala or The Four Zoas (1796), and Milton (1804).
Mostly unrecognized during his lifetime, Blake’s work today is considered significant in the history of both poetry and the visual arts. His writings influenced many later writers and artists.
If the doors of perception were cleansed, every thing would appear to man as it is, infinite.A Memorable Fancy, The Marriage of Heaven and Hell (1790)
The tygers of wrath are wiser than the horses of instruction.Proverbs of Hell, The Marriage of Heaven and Hell (1790)
Love seeketh not itself to please, nor for itself hath any care, but for another gives its ease, and builds a Heaven in Hell’s despair.The Clod and the Pebble, Songs of Innocence and of Experience (1789)
You never know what is enough unless you know what is more than enough.Proverbs of Hell, The Marriage of Heaven and Hell (1790)
He who binds to himself a joy, does the winged life destroy; but he who kisses the joy as it flies, lives in eternity’s sun rise.Eternity, Poems from Blake's Notebook (1791-1792)
The road of excess leads to the palace of wisdom.Proverbs of Hell, The Marriage of Heaven and Hell (1790)
When I tell any truth, it is not for the sake of convincing those who do not know it, but for the sake of defending those who do.Public Address (1810)
The man who never alters his opinion is like standing water, and breeds reptiles of the mind.A Memorable Fancy, The Marriage of Heaven and Hell (1790)
A truth that’s told with bad intent beats all the lies you can invent.Auguries of Innocence (1803)
Eternity is in love with the productions of time.Proverbs of Hell, The Marriage of Heaven and Hell (1790)
It is easier to forgive an Enemy than to forgive a Friend.Chapter IV, Jerusalem: The Emanation of the Giant Albion (1804)
Prisons are built with stones of Law, Brothels with bricks of Religion.Proverbs of Hell, The Marriage of Heaven and Hell (1790)
I was angry with my friend: I told my wrath, my wrath did end. I was angry with my foe: I told it not, my wrath did grow.A Poison Tree, Songs of Innocence and of Experience (1789)
No bird soars too high, if he soars with his own wings.Proverbs of Hell, The Marriage of Heaven and Hell (1790)
What is the price of Experience? do men buy it for a song? Or wisdom for a dance in the street? No, it is bought with the price Of all that a man hath, his house, his wife, his children.Night the Second, Vala, or the Four Zoas (1796)
Excess of sorrow laughs. Excess of joy weeps.Proverbs of Hell, The Marriage of Heaven and Hell (1790)
Love to faults is always blind, always is to joy inclined, lawless, winged, and unconfined, and breaks all chains from every mind.Poems from Blake's Notebook (1791-1792)
Improvement makes straight roads, but the crooked roads without improvement are roads of Genius.Proverbs of Hell, The Marriage of Heaven and Hell (1790)
To see a World in a Grain of Sand, And a Heaven in a Wild Flower, Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand, And Eternity in an hour.Auguries of Innocence (1803)
He who desires, but acts not, breeds pestilence.Proverbs of Hell, The Marriage of Heaven and Hell (1790)
Cherish pity, lest you drive an angel from your door.Holy Thursday, Songs of Innocence and of Experience (1789)
If the fool would persist in his folly he would become wise.Proverbs of Hell, The Marriage of Heaven and Hell (1790)
Without Contraries is no progression. Attraction and Repulsion, Reason and Energy, Love and Hate, are necessary to Human existence.The Argument, The Marriage of Heaven and Hell, The Marriage of Heaven and Hell (1790)
True superstition is ignorant honesty and this is beloved of god and man.Annotations to Lavater (1789)
A fool sees not the same tree that a wise man sees.Proverbs of Hell, The Marriage of Heaven and Hell (1790)
The Foundation of Empire is Art and Science. Remove them or Degrade them, and the Empire is No More. Empire follows Art and Not Vice Versa.Annotations to Sir Joshua Reynolds (1798)
The eagle never lost so much time as when he submitted to learn of the crow.Proverbs of Hell, The Marriage of Heaven and Hell (1790)
You cannot have Liberty in this World without what you call Moral Virtue, and you cannot have Moral Virtue without the Slavery of that half of the Human Race who hate what you call Moral Virtue.A Vision of the Last Judgement (1808)
The difference between a bad Artist and a Good One Is: the Bad Artist Seems to copy a Great deal. The Good one Really does Copy a Great deal.Annotations to Sir Joshua Reynolds (1798)
Always be ready to speak your mind, and a base man will avoid you.Proverbs of Hell, The Marriage of Heaven and Hell (1790)
What is now proved was once only imagined.Proverbs of Hell, The Marriage of Heaven and Hell (1790)
Those who restrain desire, do so because theirs is weak enough to be restrained.The voice of the Devil, The Marriage of Heaven and Hell (1790)
Prudence is a rich ugly old maid courted by Incapacity.Proverbs of Hell, The Marriage of Heaven and Hell (1790)
The hours of folly are measured by the clock, but of wisdom: no clock can measure.Proverbs of Hell, The Marriage of Heaven and Hell (1790)
Truth can never be told so as to be understood and not be believed.Proverbs of Hell, The Marriage of Heaven and Hell (1790)