William Morris Quotes

1834–1896 England

William Morris (24 March 1834 – 3 October 1896) was a British textile designer, poet, novelist, translator, and socialist activist associated with the British Arts and Crafts Movement.

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Random William Morris quote

98 quotes

Wert thou more fickle than the restless sea,
Still should I love thee, knowing thee for such.

Dreamer of dreams, born out of my due time,
Why should I strive to set the crooked straight?

The Earthly Paradise (1868)

If you want a golden rule that will fit everybody, this is it: Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.

Mastership hath many shifts whereby it striveth to keep itself alive in the world.

A Dream of John Ball (1886)

It is for him that is lonely or in prison to dream of fellowship, but for him that is of a fellowship to do and not to dream.

A Dream of John Ball (1886)

From out the throng and stress of lies,
From out the painful noise of sighs,
One voice of comfort seems to rise:
"It is the meaner part that dies."

I do not want art for a few, any more than education for a few, or freedom for a few.

The Decorative Arts (1877)

Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.

Ye know not how void is your hope and your living:
Depart with your helping lest yet ye undo me!

Love is Enough (1872)

The hope of the past times was gone, the struggles of mankind for many ages had produced nothing but this sordid, aimless, ugly confusion.

Why I Am a Socialist (1884)

This shall he think on in hell, and cry on his fellow to help him, and shall find that therein is no help because there is no fellowship, but every man for himself.

A Dream of John Ball (1886)

Rejoice, lest pleasureless ye die.
Within a little time must ye go by.
Stretch forth your open hands, and while ye live
Take all the gifts that Death and Life may give!

The Earthly Paradise (1868)

The greatest foe to art is luxury, art cannot live in its atmosphere.

Nor on one string are all life's jewels strung.

I say to you that earth and heaven are not two but one; and this one is that which ye know, and are each one of you a part of, to wit, the Holy Church, and in each one of you dwelleth the life of the Church, unless ye slay it.

A Dream of John Ball (1886)

Apart from the desire to produce beautiful things, the leading passion of my life has been and is hatred of modern civilization.

The majesty
That from man's soul looks through his eager eyes.

So I say, if you cannot learn to love real art; at least learn to hate sham art and reject it.

Unheard-of wealth, unheard-of love is near,
If thou hast heart a little dread to bear.

The Earthly Paradise (1868)

A world made to be lost, —
A bitter life 'twixt pain and nothing tost.

The Earthly Paradise (1868)

Attribution

Quotes and notes from Wikiquote: William Morris (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0.