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...If our houses, or clothes, our household furniture and utensils are not works of art, they are either wretched makeshifts, or, what is worse, degrading shams of better things.

William Morris

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William Morris
Age: 62 †
Born: 1834
Born: March 24
Died: 1896
Died: October 3
Wilcumestowe
William M. Morris
Art
Houses
Better
Household
Things
Worse
Clothes
Shams
Works
Utensils
Design
Degrading
Either
Wretched
House
Furniture

More quotes by William Morris

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Slayer of the winter, art thou here again? O welcome, thou that bring'st the summer nigh! The bitter wind makes not the victory vain. Nor will we mock thee for thy faint blue sky.
William Morris
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A world made to be lost, - A bitter life 'twixt pain and nothing tost.
William Morris
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So with this Earthly Paradise it is, If ye will read aright, and pardon me, Who strive to build a shadowy isle of bliss Midmost the beating of the steely sea.
William Morris
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Artists cannot help themselves they are driven to create by their nature, but for that nature to truly thrive, we need to preserve the precious habitat in which that beauty can flourish.
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Give me love and work - these two only.
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The wind is not helpless for any man's need, Nor falleth the rain but for thistle and weed.
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What is an artist but a workman who is determined that, whatever else happens, his work shall be excellent?
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A good way to rid one's self of a sense of discomfort is to do something. That uneasy, dissatisfied feeling is actual force vibrating out of order it may be turned to practical account by giving proper expression to its creative character.
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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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Forsooth, brethren, fellowship is heaven and lack of fellowship is hell fellowship is life and lack of fellowship is death and the deeds that ye do upon the earth, it is for fellowship's sake that ye do them.
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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The heart desires, the hand refrains. The Godhead fires, the soul attains.
William Morris
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Love is enough: though the world be a-waning, And the woods have no voice but the voice of complaining.
William Morris
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Forgetfulness of grief I yet may gainIn some wise may come ending to my painIt may be yet the Gods will have me glad!Yet, Love, I would that thee and pain I had!
William Morris
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The greatest foe to art is luxury, art cannot live in its atmosphere.
William Morris
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Not on one strand are all life's jewels strung.
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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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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As to the garden, it seems to me its chief fruit is-blackbirds.
William Morris
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Free men must live simple lives and have simple pleasures.
William Morris