--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Read Blake or go to hell, that's my…" description: "\"Read Blake or go to hell, that's my message to the modern world.\" — Northrop Frye" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51b/northrop-frye-3483_blake_read-blake-or-go-to-hell-that-s-my-messa_2059984.png" --- # Read Blake or go to hell, that's my message to the modern… ![“Read Blake or go to hell, that's my message to the modern world.” quote by Northrop Frye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51b/northrop-frye-3483_blake_read-blake-or-go-to-hell-that-s-my-messa_2059984.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51b/northrop-frye-3483_blake_read-blake-or-go-to-hell-that-s-my-messa_2059984.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51b/northrop-frye-3483_blake_read-blake-or-go-to-hell-that-s-my-messa_2059984.png) > “Read Blake or go to hell, that's my message to the modern world.” [Northrop Frye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/northrop-frye/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Urges reading Blake as a moral imperative against contemporary decay. **In simple terms:** Read Blake or face moral decline. Key Takeaway Embrace classic literature to challenge modern values. Themes literature morality critique Mood critical provocative Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - reading classics - ethical reflection - cultural analysis Key Concepts cultural criticism historical perspective Questions to Reflect On - Why is Blake relevant today? - How does literature shape morality? A Different Perspective May be too stark for modern audiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hell/) [Message](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/message/) [Messages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/messages/) [Modern world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/modern-world/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [“The reason to read Blake and Dickinson and Freud and Dickens is not to become more cultivated or more articulate... The best reason to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-edmundson/the-reason-to-read-blake-and-dickinson-and-freud-and-dickens-is-not/) [Mark Edmundson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-edmundson/) > [“When the messenger won't tell you what the hell the message is, my trigger finger gets twitchy. Dismissed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/when-the-messenger-won-t-tell-you-what-the-hell-the-message-is-my/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [As your governor, you’re going to be seeing a lot of me on the front page, saying ‘Governor LePage tells Obama to go to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-lepage/as-your-governor-you-re-going-to-be-seeing-a-lot-of-me-on-the-front/) [Paul LePage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-lepage/) > [What's the condition of America like, spiritually, tonight? Zero. Why? Because we've got blind men coming out of seminaries. Men there don't teach them;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-ravenhill/what-s-the-condition-of-america-like-spiritually-tonight-zero-why/) [Leonard Ravenhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-ravenhill/) > [Never tell anyone to go to hell unless you can make 'em go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/never-tell-anyone-to-go-to-hell-unless-you-can-make-em-go/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [Are you worried that, when you go to hell, you'll only be taking the local and not be on the express? Why would you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/are-you-worried-that-when-you-go-to-hell-you-ll-only-be-taking-the/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [ \[Enemies of Syria\] are the enemies of the people and the enemies of God. And the enemies of God will go to hell. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/enemies-of-syria-are-the-enemies-of-the-people-and-the-enemies-of-god/) [Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/) > [I never thought about heaven per se. I think when you're dead, you're dead. If anything happens after that, you just hope you don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/i-never-thought-about-heaven-per-se-i-think-when-you-re-dead-you-re/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) > [Tell the devil to go to hell... that's where he belongs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hart/tell-the-devil-to-go-to-hell-that-s-where-he-belongs/) [Mark Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hart/) > [The name of the game is to talk to people. If you don't talk to people, you can't get started...You knock on twenty doors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-chavez/the-name-of-the-game-is-to-talk-to-people-if-you-don-t-talk-to-people/) [Cesar Chavez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-chavez/) > [I want to be able to open up the really good treasures of the Church and Christianity to people, and that's not going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-green/i-want-to-be-able-to-open-up-the-really-good-treasures-of-the-church/) [Alan Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-green/) > [If I had to lay bets, my bet would be that everything is going to go to hell, but, you know, what else have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rorty/if-i-had-to-lay-bets-my-bet-would-be-that-everything-is-going-to-go/) [Richard Rorty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rorty/) > [Let me go to hell, that's all i ask.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel/let-me-go-to-hell-that-s-all-i-ask/) [Samuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel/) > [ If that's the kind of person you want, vote for Hillary \[Clinton\], vote for \[Donald\] Trump - and you go to hell with both… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-farrakhan/if-that-s-the-kind-of-person-you-want-vote-for-hillary-clinton-vote/) [Louis Farrakhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-farrakhan/) > [In the particular dwells the tawdry. In the conceptual dwells the grand, the transcendent, the everlasting. Earthly countries and single malignant boys can go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-shriver/in-the-particular-dwells-the-tawdry-in-the-conceptual-dwells-the/) [Lionel Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-shriver/) ## More by Northrop Frye > [I soon realized that a student of English literature who does not know the Bible does not understand a good deal of what is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/northrop-frye/i-soon-realized-that-a-student-of-english-literature-who-does-not/) [Northrop Frye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/northrop-frye/) > [Our country has shown a lack of will to resist its own disintegration .. . Canada is practically the only country left in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/northrop-frye/our-country-has-shown-a-lack-of-will-to-resist-its-own-disintegration/) [Northrop Frye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/northrop-frye/) > [“The only thing that words can do with any real precision or accuracy is hang together. Accuracy of description in language is not possible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/northrop-frye/the-only-thing-that-words-can-do-with-any-real-precision-or-accuracy/) [Northrop Frye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/northrop-frye/) > [The bedrock of doubt is the total nothingness of death. Death is a leveler, not because everybody dies, but because nobody understands what death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/northrop-frye/the-bedrock-of-doubt-is-the-total-nothingness-of-death-death-is-a/) [Northrop Frye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/northrop-frye/) > [Even the human heart is slightly left of centre.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/northrop-frye/even-the-human-heart-is-slightly-left-of-centre/) [Northrop Frye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/northrop-frye/) > [Physics is an organized body of knowledge about nature, and a student of it says that he is learning physics, not nature. Art, like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/northrop-frye/physics-is-an-organized-body-of-knowledge-about-nature-and-a-student/) [Northrop Frye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/northrop-frye/) > [Literature as a whole is not an aggregate of exhibits with red and blue ribbons attached to them, like a cat-show, but the range…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/northrop-frye/literature-as-a-whole-is-not-an-aggregate-of-exhibits-with-red-and/) [Northrop Frye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/northrop-frye/) > [One doesn't bother to believe the credible: the credible is believed already, by definition. There's no adventure of the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/northrop-frye/one-doesn-t-bother-to-believe-the-credible-the-credible-is-believed/) [Northrop Frye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/northrop-frye/) > [Culture's essential service to a religion is to destroy intellectual idolatry, the recurrent tendency in religion to replace the object of its worship with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/northrop-frye/culture-s-essential-service-to-a-religion-is-to-destroy-intellectual/) [Northrop Frye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/northrop-frye/) > [“Tendintele autoritate ale conservatorismului trebuie corectate prin mituri ale libertatii, in vreme ce un simt conservator al ordinii trebuie sa tempereze tendintele liberalismului spre…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/northrop-frye/tendintele-autoritate-ale-conservatorismului-trebuie-corectate-prin/) [Northrop Frye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/northrop-frye/) > [Literature is a human apocalypse, man's revelation to man, and criticism is not a body of adjudications, but the awareness of that revelation, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/northrop-frye/literature-is-a-human-apocalypse-man-s-revelation-to-man-and/) [Northrop Frye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/northrop-frye/) > [“The particular myth that's been organizing this talk, and in a way the whole series, is the story of the Tower of Babel in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/northrop-frye/the-particular-myth-that-s-been-organizing-this-talk-and-in-a-way-the/) [Northrop Frye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/northrop-frye/) > [Every human society possesses a mythology which is inherited, transmitted and diversified by literature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/northrop-frye/every-human-society-possesses-a-mythology-which-is-inherited/) [Northrop Frye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/northrop-frye/) > [Science begins with the world we have to live in, accepting its data and trying to explain its laws. From there, it moves toward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/northrop-frye/science-begins-with-the-world-we-have-to-live-in-accepting-its-data/) [Northrop Frye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/northrop-frye/) > [In the world of the imagination, anything goes that's imaginatively possible, but nothing really happens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/northrop-frye/in-the-world-of-the-imagination-anything-goes-that-s-imaginatively/) [Northrop Frye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/northrop-frye/) [Explore all 129 Northrop Frye quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/northrop-frye/) ## More Blake quotes > [“I caught you!" he beamed. "See, girls really do throw themselves at me. Hey, guys!" His voice echoed off the carved stone and marble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-e-kirk/i-caught-you-he-beamed-see-girls-really-do-throw-themselves-at-me-hey/) A&E Kirk > [“Livia covered the phone until Kyle looked at her. “You’re simply the best lady I know. I promise not to be oblivious anymore.” Kyle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/livia-covered-the-phone-until-kyle-looked-at-her-you-re-simply-the/) [Debra Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/) > [Just remember that William Blake wasn't even published in his lifetime. Ya gotta keep creating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-kristofferson/just-remember-that-william-blake-wasn-t-even-published-in-his/) [Kris Kristofferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-kristofferson/) > [“Remember two eighty-six. Livia now counted on the same sort of feverish, rain-soaked determination that had driven Blake to the train station for smile…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/remember-two-eighty-six-livia-now-counted-on-the-same-sort-of/) [Debra Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/) > [“Livia looked puzzled and whispered, “I have no idea why these are special.” Blake dared to touch her face. “They’re the exact color of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/livia-looked-puzzled-and-whispered-i-have-no-idea-why-these-are/) [Debra Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/) > [The Country Music Awards were held Wednesday night at Universal City. The best country songs are always about drinking and guns and love gone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/argus-hamilton/the-country-music-awards-were-held-wednesday-night-at-universal-city/) [Argus Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/argus-hamilton/) > [“... Blake is a ready-made patron saint for those wanting to elevate their marginality, dissent, and queerness into strength. The relative futility of Blake's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-elfenbein/blake-is-a-ready-made-patron-saint-for-those-wanting-to-elevate-their/) [Andrew Elfenbein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-elfenbein/) > [“You're the only one who can bring me through this, because I've never trusted someone the way I trust you. I love you so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meredith-wild/you-re-the-only-one-who-can-bring-me-through-this-because-i-ve-never/) [Meredith Wild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meredith-wild/) > [I know that look, Blake. You are a drowning woman, and the only way out is down the aisle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/i-know-that-look-blake-you-are-a-drowning-woman-and-the-only-way-out/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [“Livia used her mouth to warm any part of his body that felt cold. As she sucked his fingers, she heard a decision in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/livia-used-her-mouth-to-warm-any-part-of-his-body-that-felt-cold-as/) [Debra Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/) > [“My mother groaned, my father wept, into the dangerous world I leapt. —William Blake”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chip-walter/my-mother-groaned-my-father-wept-into-the-dangerous-world-i-leapt/) Chip Walter > [“Let me undress you. Not all the way...just as you were today at Blake's. Please. Let me see you again”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-higgins/let-me-undress-you-not-all-the-way-just-as-you-were-today-at-blake-s/) [Wendy Higgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-higgins/) > [I haven't seen a professional player come out of New York in over 20 years since my brother Patrick came out. Blake spent a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcenroe/i-haven-t-seen-a-professional-player-come-out-of-new-york-in-over-20/) [John McEnroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcenroe/) > [“There isn’t a single spot I’ll miss tonight, my wife.” Blake pulled her against him, tilting her head until he could kiss her again.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/there-isn-t-a-single-spot-i-ll-miss-tonight-my-wife-blake-pulled-her/) [Debra Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/) > [“Kyle led the way, and Cole kept a hand on her lower back, holding her hospital gown together. Livia loved the sight of this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/kyle-led-the-way-and-cole-kept-a-hand-on-her-lower-back-holding-her/) [Debra Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/) Browse all 416 Blake quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Read Blake or go to hell, that's my message to the modern world.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Northrop Frye" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/northrop-frye/read-blake-or-go-to-hell-that-s-my-message-to-the-modern-world/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Blake" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/northrop-frye/read-blake-or-go-to-hell-that-s-my-message-to-the-modern-world/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51b/northrop-frye-3483_blake_read-blake-or-go-to-hell-that-s-my-messa_2059984.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51b/northrop-frye-3483_blake_read-blake-or-go-to-hell-that-s-my-messa_2059984.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51b/northrop-frye-3483_blake_read-blake-or-go-to-hell-that-s-my-messa_2059984.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Read Blake or go to hell, that's my message to the modern world.” — Northrop Frye", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Northrop Frye", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/northrop-frye/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Read Blake or go to hell,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/northrop-frye/read-blake-or-go-to-hell-that-s-my-message-to-the-modern-world/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/northrop-frye/read-blake-or-go-to-hell-that-s-my-message-to-the-modern-world/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```