Degrade first the arts if you'd mankind degrade,
Hire idiots to paint with cold light and hot shade.


Annotations to Sir Joshua Reynolds's Discourses, title page (c. 1798–1809)

William Blake Quotes

Degrade first the arts if you'd mankind degrade, Hire idiots to paint with cold light and hot shade.

Degrade first the arts if you'd mankind degrade, Hire idiots to paint with cold light and hot shade.

Degrade first the arts if you'd mankind degrade, Hire idiots to paint with cold light and hot shade.

Degrade first the arts if you'd mankind degrade, Hire idiots to paint with cold light and hot shade.