Thou art a man God is no more Thy own humanity Learn to adore
William BlakeRead
Auguries of innocence "The emmet's inch and eagle's mile Make lame philosophy to smile. He who doubts from what he sees Will ne'er believe, do what you please.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote suggests that differing perspectives can lead to varying interpretations of truth and reality.
William Blake's quote emphasizes the idea that one's perception of reality is influenced by their experiences and beliefs. The comparison of the 'emmet' (ant) and the 'eagle' illustrates how smaller and larger beings can perceive distances very differently, suggesting that what is profound or valid for one may appear trivial to another. Ultimately, it highlights the importance of perspective in understanding the world and cautions against doubt based solely on observed evidence.
Themes
PerspectiveTruthPhilosophyPerceptionBelief
In practice
Example use cases
During a philosophy class, one could reference this quote to stimulate discussion about subjective perception.
More from William Blake
All quotes βIn seed time learn, in harvest teach, in winter enjoy.
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O thou who passest through our valleys in Thy strength, curb thy fierce steeds, allay the heat That flames from their large nostrils! Thou, O Summer, Oft pitchest here thy golden tent, and oft Beneath our oaks hast slept, while we beheld With joy thy ruddy limbs and flourishing hair.
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Every Night and every Morn Some to Misery are born. Every Morn and every Night Some are born to Sweet Delight, Some are born to Endless Night.
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As the caterpillar chooses the fairest leaves to lay her eggs on, so the priest lays his curse on the fairest joys.
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He who would do good to another must do it in minute particulars.
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