Thou art a man God is no more Thy own humanity Learn to adore
When the green woods laugh with the voice of joy, And the dimpling stream runs laughing by; When the air does laugh with our merry wit, And the green hill laughs with the noise of it.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects the beauty and joy found in nature and the connection between human happiness and the natural world.
In this quote, William Blake portrays a harmonious relationship between nature and human joy. He suggests that the laughter of the woods, streams, and hills mirrors the joyfulness of human spirit, emphasizing how deeply interconnected our emotions are with the environment around us. The imagery of laughing elements in nature illustrates a vibrant scene where every aspect of the landscape participates in the celebration of life, inspiring an appreciation for the beauty and joy that can be found in the world.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
Quote this at a nature retreat to inspire participants.
More from William Blake
All quotes →In seed time learn, in harvest teach, in winter enjoy.
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.
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.
As the caterpillar chooses the fairest leaves to lay her eggs on, so the priest lays his curse on the fairest joys.
He who would do good to another must do it in minute particulars.
Similar quotes
The supreme reality of our time is the vulnerability of our planet.
Each stone, each bend cries welcome to him. He identifies with the mountains and the streams, he sees something of his own soul in the plants and the animals and the birds of the field.
Lord I do fear / Thou'st made the world too beautiful this year.
Our Children no longer learn how to read the great book of Nature from their own direct experience, or how to interact creatively with the seasonal transformations of the planet. They seldom learn where their water come from or where it goes. We no longer coordinate our human celebration with the great liturgy of the heavens.
It's easy to blame the nature-deficit disorder on the kids' or the parents' back, but they also need the help of urban planners, schools, libraries and other community agents to find nature that's accessible.
From my experience with wild apples, I can understand that there may be reason for a savage's preferring many kinds of food which the civilized man rejects. The former has the palate of an outdoor man. It takes a savage or wild taste to appreciate a wild fruit.