Quotes from William Blake

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 as Englishmen suppose.

It is the greatest of crimes to depress true art and science.

Little fly, thy summer's play My thoughtless hand has brushed away. Am not I a fly like thee? Or art not thou a man like me? For I dance and drink and sing, Till some blind hand shall brush my wing!

Works of Art can only be produc'd in Perfection where the Man is either in Affluence or is Above the Care of it.

The mocker of Art is the mocker of Jesus.

The ignorant Insults of Individuals will not hinder me from doing my duty to my Art

What has reason to do with the art of painting?

Tools were made and born were hands Every farmer understands.

Mere enthusiasm is the all in all... / Passion and expression are beauty itself.

Everything is beautiful in its own way. Exuberance is beauty.

Sleep, sleep, beauty bright,Dreaming o'er the joys of night.Sleep, sleep: in thy sleepLittle sorrows sit and weep.

The best wine is the oldest, the best water the newest.

I must create a system or be enslaved by another mans; I will not reason and compare: my business is to create.

O Winter! bar thine adamantine doors: The north is thine; there hast thou build thy dark, Deep-founded habitation. Shake not thy roofs, Nor bend thy pillars with thine iron car.

A truth that's told with bad intent beats all the lies you can invent.

Shame is pride's cloak.

Pride is a personal commitment. It is an attitude which separates excellence from mediocrity.

Drive your cart and plow over the bones of the dead.

Death is terrible, tho' borne on angels' wings!

Mutual Forgiveness of each vice, Such are the Gates of Paradise.

The glory of Christianity is to conquer by forgiveness.

Forgiveness of enemies can only come upon their repentance.

Opposition is true friendship.

The bird a nest the spider a web the human friendship