William Blake
William Blake
William Blakewas an English poet, painter, and printmaker. Largely unrecognised during his lifetime, Blake is now considered a seminal figure in the history of the poetry and visual arts of the Romantic Age. His prophetic works have been said to form "what is in proportion to its merits the least read body of poetry in the English language". His visual artistry led one contemporary art critic to proclaim him "far and away the greatest artist Britain has ever produced". In...
NationalityEnglish
ProfessionPhilosopher
Date of Birth28 November 1757
The harlot's cry from street to street / Shall weave old England's winding-sheet.
A man's worst enemies are thoseOf his own house and family;And he who makes his law a curse,By his own law shall surely die.
The apple tree never asks the beech how he shall grow, nor the lion the horse, how he shall take his prey.
Father! father! where are you going? / O do not walk so fast. / Speak, father, speak to your little boy, / Or else I shall be lost.
The selfish smiling fool, and the sullen frowning fool, shall be both thought wise, that they may be a rod.
He who doubts from what he seesWill ne'er believe, do what you please.
Humility is only doubt, / And does the sun and moon blot out.
Every thing possible to be believed is an image of truth.
The Child's Toys and the Old Man's ReasonsAre the Fruits of the Two seasons.
Bring me my bow of burning gold!Bring me my arrows of desire!Bring me my spear! O clouds, unfold!Bring me my chariot of fire!
He's a Blockhead who wants a proof of what heCan't PerceiveAnd he's a Fool who tries to make such aBlockhead believe.
He who desires but does not act, breeds pestilence.
The essentials to happiness are something to love, something to do, and something to hope for.
And now the time returns again: / Our souls exult, and London's towers / Receive the Lamb of God to dwell / In England's green and pleasant bowers.