Quotes from William Blake

He who would do good to another must do it in minute particulars: general good is the plea of the scoundrel, hypocrite and flatterer. For art and science cannot exist but in minutely organized particulars.

I must create a system, or be enslaved by another man's.

To Mercy, Pity, Peace and Love All pray in their distress.

No bird soars too high if he soars on his own wings.

Excessive sorrow laughs. Excessive joy weeps.

The Old and New Testaments are the Great Code of Art.

One thought fills immensity.

I have no name: I am but two days old. What shall I call thee? I happy am, Joy is my name. Sweet joy befall thee!

Prudence is a rich, ugly, old maid courted by incapacity.

I love hanging and drawing and quartering Every bit as well as war and slaughtering.

If you have form'd a circle to go into, Go into it yourself, and see how you would do. They said this mystery never shall cease: The priest promotes war, and the soldier peace.

The man who never alters his opinions is like standing water, and breeds reptiles of the mind.

Does the Eagle know what is in the pit Or wilt thou go ask the Mole? Can Wisdom be put in a silver rod, Or Love in a golden bowl?

More! More! is the cry of a mistaken soul.

What is grand is necessarily obscure to weak men. That which can be made explicit to the idiot is not worth my care.

The hours of folly are measured by the clock; but of wisdom, no clock can measure.

To generalize is to be an idiot.

When the doors of perception are cleansed, men will see things as they truly are, infinite.

The fool who persists in his folly will become wise.

Better to shun the bait than struggle in the snare.

The tigers of wrath are wiser than the horses of instruction.

Wisdom is sold in a desolate marketplace where none can come to buy.

The wrath of the lion is the wisdom of God.

But most thro' midnight streets I hear How the youthful Harlots curse Blasts the new-born Infants tear And blights with plagues the Marriage hearse