William Blake

William Blake was incredibly far out. His “The Marriage of Heaven and Hell” is full of fun and contrary aphorisms aimed at the standard Christian pieties that also sparkle with profound wisdom. Say what you will about his life and all that’s been written about him – to me, his work speaks for itself – examples below.


He who binds to himself a joy
Does the winged life destroy
He who kisses the joy as it flies
Lives in eternity’s sunrise

(from The Poetical Works)

To see a World in a Grain of Sand 
And a Heaven in a Wild Flower 
Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand 
And Eternity in an hour

(from Auguries of Innocence)

Gratitude is heaven itself

(from The Letters of William Blake: Together with a Life)

These ones are all from The Marriage of Heaven and Hell:

The road of excess leads to the palace of wisdom.

Eternity is in love with the productions of time.

If the fool would persist in his folly he would become wise.

Shame is Pride’s cloke

Prisons are built with stones of Law, Brothels with bricks of Religion.

The fox condemns the trap, not himself.

One thought fills immensity.

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

The soul of sweet delight can never be defil’d.