--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The enquiry in England is not whether a…" description: "\"The enquiry in England is not whether a man has talents & genius, but whether he is passive & polite & a virtuous ass & obedient to noblemen's opinions..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/570/william-blake-397_art_the-enquiry-in-england-is-not-whether-a_1042082.jpg" --- # The enquiry in England is not whether a man has talents &… ![“The enquiry in England is not whether a man has talents & genius, but whether he is passive & polite & a virtuous ass & obedient to noblemen's opinions in art & science. If he is, he is a good man. If not, he must be starved.” quote by William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/570/william-blake-397_art_the-enquiry-in-england-is-not-whether-a_1042082.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/570/william-blake-397_art_the-enquiry-in-england-is-not-whether-a_1042082.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/570/william-blake-397_art_the-enquiry-in-england-is-not-whether-a_1042082.jpg) > “The enquiry in England is not whether a man has talents & genius, but whether he is passive & polite & a virtuous ass & obedient to noblemen's opinions in art & science. If he is, he is a good man. If not, he must be starved.” [William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote satirizes a society that values conformity and deference to authority over genuine talent and creativity. **In simple terms:** Society rewards obedience, not originality. Key Takeaway Question conformity, value true talent. Themes conformity authority creativity talent societal norms Mood critical ironic reflective Type satirical philosophical When to use this quote - academic institutions - corporate culture - artistic communities - political discourse Key Concepts individualism social critique power dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How does conformity limit personal potential? - What would happen if society valued originality over obedience? A Different Perspective Blind obedience can stifle innovation and personal growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Good man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-man/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Things happen for a reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-happen-for-a-reason/) ## Related quotes > [The inquiry in England is not whether a man has talents and genius, but whether he is passive and polite and a virtuous ass…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/the-inquiry-in-england-is-not-whether-a-man-has-talents-and-genius/) [William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) > [In England every man you meet is some man's son; in America, he may be some man's father.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/in-england-every-man-you-meet-is-some-man-s-son-in-america-he-may-be/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I know it is easy to criticise and I accept it is a difficult job managing England but the man in charge must be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-whelan/i-know-it-is-easy-to-criticise-and-i-accept-it-is-a-difficult-job/) Dave Whelan > [In England it is enough for a man to try and produce any serious, beautiful work to lose all his rights as a citizen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/in-england-it-is-enough-for-a-man-to-try-and-produce-any-serious/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“This, Tietjens thought, is England! A man and a maid walk through Kentish grass fields: the grass ripe for the scythe. The man honourable,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ford-madox-ford/this-tietjens-thought-is-england-a-man-and-a-maid-walk-through/) [Ford Madox Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ford-madox-ford/) > [Whenever I went to England I always see the man inside George Best. I knew that George - not the famous person with his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eusebio/whenever-i-went-to-england-i-always-see-the-man-inside-george-best-i/) [Eusebio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eusebio/) > [“For this is England where a man's neighbours will never suffer him to live entirely bereft of society, let him be as dry and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susanna-clarke/for-this-is-england-where-a-man-s-neighbours-will-never-suffer-him-to/) [Susanna Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susanna-clarke/) > [It is not what talents or genius a man has, but how he is to his talents, that constitutes friendship and character. The man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/it-is-not-what-talents-or-genius-a-man-has-but-how-he-is-to-his/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The greater a man's talents, the more marked his idiosyncracies. Yet in the provinces originality is considered perilously close to lunacy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/the-greater-a-man-s-talents-the-more-marked-his-idiosyncracies-yet-in/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [Unless a man has the talents to make something of himself, freedom is an irksome burden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/unless-a-man-has-the-talents-to-make-something-of-himself-freedom-is-2/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Cuvier had even in his address & manner the character of a superior Man, much general power & eloquence in conversation & great variety…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/humphry-davy/cuvier-had-even-in-his-address-manner-the-character-of-a-superior-man/) [Humphry Davy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/humphry-davy/) > [It was sometimes difficult to reconcile a man's talents with his personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-moore/it-was-sometimes-difficult-to-reconcile-a-man-s-talents-with-his/) [Christopher Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-moore/) > [I have been called a man of many talents, but I like to keep a few of those talents hidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-flintoff/i-have-been-called-a-man-of-many-talents-but-i-like-to-keep-a-few-of/) [Andrew Flintoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-flintoff/) > [The greater a man's talents, the greater his power to lead astray.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/the-greater-a-man-s-talents-the-greater-his-power-to-lead-astray/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [“The greater a man's talents, the greater his power to lead astray. It is better than one should suffer than that many should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/the-greater-a-man-s-talents-the-greater-his-power-to-lead-astray-it/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) ## More by William Blake > [Poetry fettered, fetters the human race. Nations are destroyed or flourish in proportion as their poetry, painting, and music are destroyed or flourish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/poetry-fettered-fetters-the-human-race-nations-are-destroyed-or/) [William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) > [Where any view of money exists, art cannot be carried on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/where-any-view-of-money-exists-art-cannot-be-carried-on/) [William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) > [God only acts and is, in existing beings or men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/god-only-acts-and-is-in-existing-beings-or-men/) [William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) > [Kill not the moth nor butterfly, For the Last Judgement draweth nigh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/kill-not-the-moth-nor-butterfly-for-the-last-judgement-draweth-nigh/) [William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) > [The world of imagination is the world of eternity. It is the divine bosom into which we shall all go after death of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/the-world-of-imagination-is-the-world-of-eternity-it-is-the-divine/) [William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) > [Imagination is the real and eternal world of which this vegetable universe is but a faint shadow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/imagination-is-the-real-and-eternal-world-of-which-this-vegetable/) [William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) > [Painters are noted for being dissipated and wild.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/painters-are-noted-for-being-dissipated-and-wild/) [William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) > [Time is the mercy of Eternity; without Time's swiftness Which is the swiftest of all things, all were eternal torment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/time-is-the-mercy-of-eternity-without-time-s-swiftness-which-is-the/) [William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) > [The difference between a bad artist and a good one is: the bad artist seems to copy a great deal; the good one really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/the-difference-between-a-bad-artist-and-a-good-one-is-the-bad-artist/) [William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) > [Cruelty has a human heart, and jealousy a human face. Terror, the human form divine, And secrecy, the human dress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/cruelty-has-a-human-heart-and-jealousy-a-human-face-terror-the-human/) [William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) > [A dead body revenges not injuries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/a-dead-body-revenges-not-injuries/) [William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) > [Those who restrain desire, do so because theirs is weak enough to be restrained; and the restrainer or reason usurps its place & governs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/those-who-restrain-desire-do-so-because-theirs-is-weak-enough-to-be/) [William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) > [To generalize is to be an idiot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/to-generalize-is-to-be-an-idiot/) [William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) > [THE POISON TREE I was angry with my friend: I told my wrath, my wrath did end. I was angry with my foe; I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/the-poison-tree-i-was-angry-with-my-friend-i-told-my-wrath-my-wrath/) [William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) > [The bird a nest the spider a web the human friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/the-bird-a-nest-the-spider-a-web-the-human-friendship/) [William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) [Explore all 592 William Blake quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) ## More Art quotes > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. 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You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) Taf Teh > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [“The only thing--I tell you this straight from the heart--that disgusts me in Salzburg is that one can't have any proper social intercourse with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/the-only-thing-i-tell-you-this-straight-from-the-heart-that-disgusts/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) [Browse all 48,643 Art quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The enquiry in England is not whether a man has talents & genius, but whether he is passive & polite & a virtuous ass & obedient to noblemen's opinions in art & science. 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