Thou art a man God is no more Thy own humanity Learn to adore
William BlakeRead
Commerce is so far from being beneficial to arts, or to empire, that it is destructive of both, as all their history shows, for the above reason of individual merit being its great hatred. Empires flourish till they become commercial, and then they are scattered abroad to the four winds.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote suggests that commerce can harm both the arts and the stability of empires by prioritizing individual profit over collective merit.
William Blake's quote critiques the negative impact of commerce on the cultural arts and the cohesion of empires. He argues that while empires may thrive initially, the onset of commercialism leads to their eventual decline, as the pursuit of individual gain undermines the values that bind societies and cultivate artistic expression. This highlights the tension between economic interests and the greater good of culture and community.
Themes
CommerceArtsEmpireIndividual MeritDecline
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about the role of commerce in society, one might use this quote to highlight the importance of preserving cultural values.
More from William Blake
All quotes →In seed time learn, in harvest teach, in winter enjoy.
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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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