Quotes by William Morris

“With the arrogance of youth, I determined to do no less than to transform the world with Beauty. If I have succeeded in some small way, if only in one small corner of the world, amongst the men and women I love, then I shall count myself blessed, and blessed, and blessed, and the work goes on.””

“OctoberO love, turn from the changing sea and gaze,Down these grey slopes, upon the year grown old,A-dying 'mid the autumn-scented hazeThat hangeth o'er the hollow in the wold,Where the wind-bitten ancient elms infoldGrey church, long barn, orchard, and red-roofed stead,Wrought in dead days for men a long while dead.Come down, O love; may not our hands still meet,Since still we live today, forgetting June,Forgetting May, deeming October sweet? - - Oh, hearken! hearken! through the afternoonThe grey tower sings a strange old tinkling tune!Sweet, sweet, and sad, the toiling year's last breath,To satiate of life, to strive with death.And we too -will it not be soft and kind,That rest from life, from patience, and from pain,That rest from bliss we know not when we find,That rest from love which ne'er the end can gain?- Hark! how the tune swells, that erewhile did wane!Look up, love! -Ah! cling close, and never move!How can I have enough of life and love?””

“It is the childlike part of us that produces works of the imagination. When we were children time passed so slow with us that we seemed to have time for everything.””

“Nothing should be made by man's labour which is not worth making, or which must be made by labour degrading to the makers.””

“Nothing useless can be truly beautiful.””

“We are only the trustees for those who come after us.””

“If a chap can't compose an epic poem while he's weaving tapestry, he had better shut up, he'll never do any good at all.””

“Morris liked to share he books with others. Sometimes it was a favorite that everyone loved, and other times he found a lonely little volume whose tale was seldom told."Everyone's story matters," said Morris. And all the books agreed.””

“The true secret of happiness lies in taking a genuine interest in all the details of daily life.””

“Have nothing in your house you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.””