80 Best William Blake Quotes To Inspire You

William Blake was an English poet of the Romantic Age.

Born on 28 November 1757 in London, William Blake was also a painter. His painting style was considered to be modern art.

Considered as of the greatest poets of Britain William Blake's preferred writing style can be described as mystical romanticism. In the poem 'Tyger', the Tyger is considered as a metaphysical conceit of God's creation, as Blake himself was a seeker of religion.

We have gathered the best William Blake quotes here for you, if you like these William Blake quotes and are looking for more quotes, do check out these William Wordsworth quotes and Keats quotes too.
 

The Best William Blake Quotes

Here you will find some of the best quotes by William Blake, these are all beautiful William Blake poetry quotes.

1. "A truth that's told with bad intent

Beats all the lies you can invent."

-William Blake, 'Auguries Of Innocence'.

2. "If the doors of perception were cleansed everything would appear to man as it is, Infinite. For man has closed himself up, till he sees all things thro' narrow chinks of his cavern."

-William Blake, 'The Marriage Of Heaven And Hell'.

3. "He whose face gives no light, shall never become a star."

-William Blake, 'Proverbs Of Hell'.  

4. "Excessive sorrow laughs. Excessive joy weeps."

-William Blake, 'Proverbs Of Hell'.

5. "To see a World in a Grain of Sand

And a Heaven in a Wild Flower."

-William Blake, 'Auguries Of Innocence'.

6. "Some to Misery are Born

Every Morn and every Night

Some are Born to sweet delight

Some are Born to Endless Night."

-William Blake, 'Auguries Of Innocence'.

7. "I must create a system, or be enslaved by another man's. I will not reason and compare: my business is to create."

-William Blake, 'Jerusalem: The Emanation Of The Giant Albion'.

8. "The road of excess leads to the palace of wisdom... You never know what is enough until you know what is more than enough."

-William Blake, 'Proverbs Of Hell'.

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

-William Blake, 'The Marriage Of Heaven And Hell'.

10. "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."

-William Blake, 'The Clod And The Pebble', 'Songs Of Innocence And Experience'.

11. "Tyger Tyger, burning bright,

In the forests of the night;

What immortal hand or eye,

Could frame thy fearful symmetry?"

-William Blake, 'The Tyger', 'Songs Of Innocence And Experience'.

12. "Without contraries is no progression. Attraction and repulsion, reason and energy, love and hate, are necessary to human existence."

-William Blake, 'The Marriage Of Heaven And Hell'.

13. "He who kisses the joy as it flies

Lives in eternity's sunrise."

-William Blake, 'Eternity'.  

14. "If a thing loves, it is infinite."

-William Blake, 'The Marriage Of Heaven And Hell'.

15. "My mother groand! my father wept.

Into the dangerous world I leapt:

Helpless, naked, piping loud;

Like a fiend hid in a cloud."

-William Blake, 'Infant Sorrow', 'Songs Of Innocence And Experience'.

16. "You never know what is enough unless you know what is more than enough."

-William Blake, 'The Marriage Of Heaven And Hell'.

17. "Eternity is in love with the productions of time."

-William Blake, 'The Marriage Of Heaven And Hell'.

18. "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."

-William Blake, 'A Poison Tree', 'Songs Of Innocence And Experience'.

William Blake Quotes On Two Contrary States Of The Human Soul

As the title suggests you will find famous William Blake quotes which depict human nature here.

19. "For I dance

And drink and sing,

Till some blind hand

Shall brush my wing."

-William Blake, 'The Fly', 'Songs Of Innocence And Experience'.

20. "Wrath, by His meekness,

And, by His health, sickness

Is driven away

From our immortal day."

-William Blake, 'Night', 'Songs Of Innocence And Experience'.

21. "O He gives to us His joy,

That our grief He may destroy:

Till our grief is fled and gone

He doth sit by us and moan."

-William Blake, 'On Another's Sorrow', 'Songs Of Innocence And Experience'.

22. "And mutual fear brings peace,

Till the selfish loves increase:

Then Cruelty knits a snare,

And spreads his baits with care."

-William Blake, 'The Human Abstract', 'Songs Of Innocence And Experience'.

23. "And God like a father rejoicing to see,

His children as pleasant and happy as he:

Would have no more quarrel with the Devil or the Barrel

But kiss him & give him both drink and apparel."

-William Blake, 'The Little Vagabond', 'Songs Of Innocence And Experience'.

24. "Turn away no more:

Why wilt thou turn away

The starry floor

The watry shore

Is giv'n thee till the break of day."

-William Blake, 'Introduction To The Songs Of Experience', 'Songs Of Innocence And Experience'.

William Blake Quotes On God In Man's Image

Here are some William Blake poems which showcase the image of God in a man.

25. "He kissed the child, and by the hand led,

And to his mother brought,

Who in sorrow pale, through the lonely dale,

Her little boy weeping sought."

-William Blake, 'The Little Boy Found', 'Songs Of Innocence And Experience'.

26. "Sweet babe, in thy face

Soft desires I can trace,

Secret joys and secret smiles,

Little pretty infant wiles."

-William Blake, ' Cradle Song', 'Songs Of Innocence And Experience'.

27. "Am not I

A fly like thee?

Or art not thou

A man like me?"

-William Blake, 'The Fly', 'Songs Of Innocence And Experience'.

28. "Thou, mother of my mortal part,

With cruelty didst mould my heart,

And with false self-deceiving tears

Didst blind my nostrils, eyes, and ears."

-William Blake, 'To Tirzah', 'Songs Of Innocence And Experience'.

29. "Selfish father of men

Cruel, jealous, selfish fear

Can delight

Chain'd in night

The virgins of youth and morning bear."

-William Blake, 'Earth's Answer', 'Songs Of Innocence And Experience'.

30. "And because I am happy and dance and sing, They think they have done me no injury,

And are gone to praise God and his Priest and King,

Who make up a heaven of our misery."

-William Blake, 'The Chimney Sweeper: A Little Black Thing Among The Snow', 'Songs Of Innocence And Experience'.

William Blake Quotes On The Child Motif

Here are some of William Blake quotes written by the author, all about children.

31. "I a child & thou a lamb,

We are called by his name."

-William Blake, 'The Lamb', 'Songs Of Innocence And Experience'.

32. "When I from black and he from white cloud free,

And round the tent of God like lambs we joy:"

-William Blake, 'The Little Black Boy', 'Songs Of Innocence And Experience'.

33. "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"

-William Blake, 'The Little Boy Lost', 'Songs Of Innocence And Experience'.

William Blake Quotes On The Perception Of Children

The perception of children was a delicate theme of Blake's writing and these quotes demonstrate this.

34. "The sky-lark and thrush,

The birds of the bush,

Sing louder around,

To the bells' cheerful sound.

While our sports shall be seen

On the Ecchoing Green."

-William Blake, 'The Echoing Green', 'Songs Of Innocence And Experience'.

35. "No, no, let us play, for it is yet day,

And we cannot go to sleep;

Besides, in the sky the little birds fly,

And the hills are all covered with sheep."

-William Blake, 'Nurse's Song', 'Songs Of Innocence And Experience'.

36. "Ah then at times I drooping sit,

And spend many an anxious hour;

Nor in my book can I take delight,

Nor sit in learning's bower,

Worn through with the dreary shower."

-William Blake, 'The Schoolboy', 'Songs Of Innocence And Experience'.

William Blake Quotes On The Vulnerability Of Innocence

The poet was known for poems on the theme of innocence.

37. "My mother bore me in the southern wild,

And I am black, but O! my soul is white;

White as an angel is the English child:

But I am black as if bereav'd of light."

-William Blake, 'The Little Black Boy', 'Songs Of Innocence And Experience'.

38. "Pretty, pretty robin!

Under leaves so green

A happy blossom

Hears you sobbing, sobbing,

Pretty, pretty robin,

Near my bosom."

-William Blake, 'The Blossom', 'Songs Of Innocence And Experience'.

39. "When wolves and tigers howl for prey,

They pitying stand and weep;

Seeking to drive their thirst away,

And keep them from the sheep."

-William Blake, 'Night', 'Songs Of Innocence And Experience'.

40. "O my children! do they cry,

Do they hear their father sigh?

Now they look abroad to see,

Now return and weep for me."

-William Blake, 'A Dream', 'Songs Of Innocence And Experience'.

41. "How the Chimney-sweepers cry

Every blackning Church appalls,

And the hapless Soldiers sigh

Runs in blood down Palace walls."

-William Blake, 'London', 'Songs Of Innocence And Experience'.

42. "Is this a holy thing to see,

In a rich and fruitful land,

Babes reducd to misery,

Fed with cold and usurous hand?"

-William Blake, 'Holy Thursday', 'Songs Of Innocence And Experience'.

43. "Lost in desert wild

Is your little child.

How can Lyca sleep

If her mother weep?"

-William Blake, 'The Little Girl Lost', 'Songs Of Innocence And Experience'.

William Blake Quotes On The Doubts About The Future Life

Here are some William Blake quotes which question the existence of the future life.

44. "Where the Youth pined away with desire,

And the pale Virgin shrouded in snow:

Arise from their graves and aspire,

Where my Sun-flower wishes to go."

-William Blake, 'Ah! Sun-Flower', 'Songs Of Innocence And Experience'.

45. "And the gates of this Chapel were shut,

And Thou shalt not. writ over the door;

So I turn'd to the Garden of Love,

That so many sweet flowers bore."

-William Blake, 'The Garden Of Love', 'Songs Of Innocence And Experience'.

46. "Folly is an endless maze;

Tangled roots perplex her ways;

How many have fallen there!"

-William Blake, 'The Voice Of The Ancient Bard', 'Songs Of Innocence And Experience'.

William Blake Quotes On Parental Care And Authority

One of the themes in Blake's writing was parental care. Here are some of the best William Blake quotes on parental authority.

47. "For he hears the lambs' innocent call,

And he hears the ewes' tender reply;

He is watchful while they are in peace,

For they know when their shepherd is nigh."

-William Blake, 'The Shepherd', 'Songs Of Innocence And Experience'.

48. "Round the laps of their mothers,

Many sisters and brothers,

Like birds in their nest,

Are ready for rest."

-William Blake, 'The Echoing Green', 'Songs Of Innocence And Experience'.

49. "Then come home, my children, the sun is gone down,

And the dews of night arise;

Come, come, leave off play, and let us away,

Till the morning appears in the skies."

-William Blake, 'Nurse's Song', 'Songs Of Innocence And Experience'.

50. "All the night in woe

Lyca's parents go

Over valleys deep,

While the deserts weep."

-William Blake, 'The Little Girl Found', 'Songs Of Innocence And Experience'.

51. "The little boy lost in the lonely fen,

Led by the wandering light,

Began to cry, but God, ever nigh,

Appeared like his father, in white."

-William Blake, 'The Little Boy Found', 'Songs Of Innocence And Experience'.

William Blake Quotes On Repression Of Emotions

One of the themes of Blake's writing was repression of emotions, so here are some quotes about that.

52. "Has found out thy bed

Of crimson joy:

And his dark secret love

Does thy life destroy."

-William Blake, 'The Sick Rose', 'Songs Of Innocence And Experience'.

53. "Soon my Angel came again;

I was armed, he came in vain;

For the time of youth was fled,

And grey hairs were on my head."

-William Blake, 'The Angel', 'Songs Of Innocence And Experience'.

54. "And I saw it was filled with graves,

And tomb-stones where flowers should be:

And Priests in black gowns, were walking their rounds,

And binding with briars, my joys & desires."

-William Blake, 'The Garden Of Love', 'Songs Of Innocence And Experience'.

55. "And it bears the fruit of Deceit,

Ruddy and sweet to eat;

And the Raven his nest has made

In its thickest shade."

-William Blake, 'The Human Abstract', 'Songs Of Innocence And Experience'.

56. "The night was dark no father was there

The child was wet with dew.

The mire was deep, & the child did weep

And away the vapour flew."

-William Blake, 'The Little Boy Lost', 'Songs Of Innocence And Experience'.

57. "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."

-William Blake, 'London', 'Songs Of Innocence And Experience'.

William Blake Quotes On The Effects Of Fall

Here are some nature based quotes by Blake, with deep emphasis on the season of Fall.

58. "Then I went to my pretty rose tree,

To tend her by day and by night;

But my rose turned away with jealousy,

And her thorns were my only delight."

-William Blake, 'My Pretty Rose Tree', 'Songs Of Innocence And Experience'.

59. "The modest Rose puts forth a thorn,

The humble sheep a threat'ning horn:

While the Lily white shall in love delight,

Nor a thorn nor a threat stain her beauty bright."

-William Blake, 'The Lily', 'Songs Of Innocence And Experience'.

60. "So he took his wings, and fled;

Then the morn blushed rosy red.

I dried my tears, and armed my fears

With ten thousand shields and spears."

-William Blake, 'The Angel', 'Songs Of Innocence And Experience'.

61. "And into my garden stole,

When the night had veild the pole;

In the morning glad I see;

My foe outstretched beneath the tree."

-William Blake, 'A Poison Tree', 'Songs Of Innocence And Experience'.

62. "To Mercy, Pity, Peace, and Love

All pray in their distress;

And to these virtues of delight

Return their thankfulness."

-William Blake, 'The Divine Image', 'Songs Of Innocence And Experience'.

William Blake Quotes On Snares And Confinement

Snares and confinement were another prominent theme in Blake's writing.

63. "Break this heavy chain,

That does freeze my bones around

Selfish! vain!

Eternal bane!

That free Love with bondage bound."

-William Blake, 'Earth's Answer', 'Songs Of Innocence And Experience'.

64. "Struggling in my fathers hands:

Striving against my swaddling bands:

Bound and weary I thought best

To sulk upon my mothers breast."

-William Blake, 'Infant Sorrow', 'Songs Of Innocence And Experience'.

65. "Then I went to the heath and the wild, To the thistles and thorns of the waste;

And they told me how they were beguiled, Driven out, and compelled to the chaste."

-William Blake, 'The Garden Of Love', 'Songs Of Innocence And Experience'.

66. "Didst close my tongue in senseless clay,

And me to mortal life betray.

The death of Jesus set me free:

Then what have I to do with thee?"

-William Blake, 'To Tirzah', 'Songs Of Innocence And Experience'.

67. "In every cry of every Man,

In every Infants cry of fear,

In every voice: in every ban,

The mind-forg'd manacles I hear."

-William Blake, 'London', 'Songs Of Innocence And Experience'.

Other Famous William Blake Quotes

Here you'll find some of the beautiful quotes by Blake along with William Blake love quotes.

68. "A man can't soar too high, when he flies with his own wings."

-William Blake.

69. "The imagination is not a state: it is the human existence itself."

-William Blake.

70. "Man was made for Joy & Woe

And when this we rightly know

Thro the World we safely go."

-William Blake, 'Auguries Of Innocence'.

71. Every thing possible to be believ'd is an image of truth.

-William Blake, 'Marriage Of Heaven And Hell'.

72. "There is a void, outside of existence, which if enterd into

Englobes itself & becomes a womb, such was albions couch

A pleasant shadow of repose calld albions lovely land."

-William Blake, 'Jerusalem: The Emanation Of The Giant Albion'.

73. "The argument man has no notion of moral fitness but from education.

Naturally he is only a natural organ subject to sense."

-William Blake, 'There Is No Natural Religion'.

74. "If the lion was advised by the fox. he would be cunning."

-William Blake, 'Marriage Of Heaven And Hell'.

75. "As he enterd the Door of Death for Albions sake Inspired

The long sufferings of god are not for ever there is a judgment."

-William Blake, 'Jerusalem: The Emanation Of The Giant Albion'.

76. "Over the waves she went in wing'd exulting swift delight;

And over Theotormons reign, took her impetuous course."

-William Blake, 'Visions Of The Daughters Of Albion'.

77. "The tygers of wrath are wiser than the horses of instruction."

-William Blake, 'Marriage Of Heaven And Hell'.

78. "The desires & perceptions of man untaught by any thing but

organs of sense, must be limited to objects of sense."

-William Blake, 'There Is No Natural Religion'.

79. "On clouds of smoke rages his chariot

And his right hand burns red in its cloud

Moulding into a vast globe, his wrath

As the thunder-stone is moulded.

Son of Urizens silent burnings"

-William Blake, The Book Of Ahania'.

80. "For the soft soul of America, Oothoon wanderd in woe,

Along the vales of Leutha seeking flowers to comfort her;"

-William Blake, 'Visions Of The Daughters Of Albion'.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly quotes for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for William Blake quotes then why not take a look at [T.S. Eliot quotes] John Milton quotes too?