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

William Morris

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William Morris
Age: 62 †
Born: 1834
Born: March 24
Died: 1896
Died: October 3
Wilcumestowe
William M. Morris
Produce
Modern
Passion
Desire
Beautiful
Leading
Things
Apart
Life
Hatred
Civilization

More quotes by William Morris

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It has become an article of the creed of modern morality that all labour is good in itself -- a convenient belief to those who live on the labour of others. But as to those on whom they live, I recommend them not to take it on trust, but to look into the matter a little deeper.
William Morris
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Between complete socialism and communism there is no difference whatever in my mind.Communism is in fact the completion of socialism when that ceases to be militant and becomes triumphant, it will be communism.
William Morris
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Ornamental pattern work, to be raised above the contempt of reasonable men, must possess three qualities: beauty, imagination and order.
William Morris
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History has remembered the kings and warriors, because they destroyed art has remembered the people, because they created.
William Morris
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Art made by the people for the people, as a joy to the maker and the user.
William Morris
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You may hang your walls with tapestry insread of whitewash or paper or you may cover them with mosaic or have them frescoed by a great painter: all this is not luxury, if it be done for beauty's sake, and not for show: it does not break our golden rule: Have nothing in your houses which you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.
William Morris
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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.
William Morris
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The past is not dead, it is living in us, and will be alive in the future which we are now helping to make.
William Morris
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Do not be afraid of large patterns, if properly designed they are more restful to the eye than small ones: on the whole, a pattern where the structure is large and the details much broken up is the most useful...very small rooms, as well as very large ones, look better ornamented with large patterns.
William Morris
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Earth, left silent by the wind of night,Seems shrunken 'neath the gray unmeasured height.
William Morris
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My work is the embodiment of dreams in one form or another.
William Morris
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I do not want art for a few any more than education for a few, or freedom for a few.
William Morris
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Another thing much too commonly seen, is an aberration of the human mind which otherwise I should have been ashamed to warn you of. It is technically called carpet-gardening. Need I explain it further? I had rather not, for when I think of it, even when I am quite alone, I blush with shame at the thought.
William Morris
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Simplicity of life, even the barest, is not a misery, but the very foundation of refinement.
William Morris
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I half wish that I had not been born with a sense of romance and beauty in this accursed age.
William Morris
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Speak not, move not, but listen, the sky is full of gold. No ripple on the river, no stir in field or fold, All gleams but naught doth glisten, but the far-off unseen sea. Forget days past, heart broken, put all memory by! No grief on the green hillside, no pity in the sky, Joy that may not be spoken fills mead and flower and tree.
William Morris
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If you cannot learn to love real art, at least learn to hate sham art and reject it.
William Morris
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All rooms ought to look as if they were lived in, and to have so to say, a friendly welcome ready for the incomer.
William Morris
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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.
William Morris
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Late February days and now, at last, Might you have thought that Winter's woe was past So fair the sky was and so soft the air.
William Morris