Objects Gods Quote by William Blake
““The ancient Poets animated all sensible objects with Gods or Geniuses, calling them by the names and adorning them with the properties of woods, rivers, mountains, lakes, cities, nations, and whatever their enlarged & numerous senses could perceive. And particularly they studied the genius of each city & country, placing it under its mental deity; Till a system was formed, which some took advantage of & enslav’d the vulgar by attempting to realize or abstract the mental deities from their objects: thus began Priesthood; Choosing forms of worship from poetic tales. And at length they pronounc’d that the Gods had order’d such things. Thus men forgot that All deities reside in the human breast.””
About This Quote
Source Poem: “The Marriage of Heaven and Hell”, 1790
Ancient poets personified natural and social elements as deities, later leading to institutionalized worship that obscured the belief that divinity resides within humans.
In simple terms: People once saw gods in everything, then forgot they hold divinity inside.
Key Takeaway
Recognize inner potential rather than external authority.
Themes
mythology
humanism
spirituality
philosophy
history of religion
Mood
contemplative
inspirational
critical
Type
philosophical
motivational
When to use this quote
- personal growth
- spiritual practice
- critical thinking
- education
- community dialogue
Key Concepts
personification
deification
psychology of belief
social constructs
Questions to Reflect On
- What inner qualities are you overlooking?
- How does external worship affect self‑perception?
A Different Perspective
Modern institutions may still externalize power, limiting personal agency.
