William Blake
Overview
William Blake was an English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...

 poet, painter, and printmaker. Largely unrecognised during his lifetime, Blake is now considered a seminal figure in the history of both the poetry and visual arts of the Romantic Age
Romanticism
Romanticism was an artistic, literary and intellectual movement that originated in the second half of the 18th century in Europe, and gained strength in reaction to the Industrial Revolution...

. His prophetic poetry has been said to form "what is in proportion to its merits the least read body of poetry in the English language". His visual artistry has led one contemporary art critic to proclaim him "far and away the greatest artist Britain has ever produced".
Quotations

Reason, or the ratio of all we have already known, is not the same that it shall be when we know more.

There Is No Natural Religion (1788)

The true method of knowledge is experiment.

All Religions are One (1788)

There can be no Good Will. Will is always Evil; it is persecution to others or selfishness.

Annotations to Swedenborg (1788)

If a thing loves, it is infinite.

Annotations to Swedenborg (1788)

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?

The Book of Thel|The Book of Thel, Thel's Motto (1789–1792)

Nothing can be more contemptible than to suppose Public RECORDS to be True.

Annotations to An Apology for the Bible by R. Watson

That the Jews assumed a right Exclusively to the benefits of God. will be a lasting witness against them. & the same will it be against Christians

Annotations to An Apology for the Bible by R. Watson

Degrade first the arts if you'd mankind degrade, Hire idiots to paint with cold light and hot shade.

Annotations to Sir Joshua Reynolds's Discourses, title page (c. 1798–1809)

To Generalize is to be an Idiot. To Particularize is the Alone Distinction of Merit — General Knowledges are those Knowledges that Idiots possess.

Annotations to Sir Joshua Reynolds's Discourses, pp. xvii–xcviii (c. 1798–1809)

The Foundation of Empire is Art & Science Remove them or Degrade them & the Empire is No More — Empire follows Art & Not Vice Versa as Englishmen suppose.

Annotations to Sir Joshua Reynolds's Discourses

 
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