For Mercy has a human heart, Pity, a human face, And Love, the human form divine, And Peace, the human dress.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Abstract virtues are mapped to human physical traits, suggesting they are inherently human.
- In plain terms
- Mercy has a heart, pity a face, love a body, and peace a dress.
- What can you take from it?
- Virtues are embodied in human form.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How does the human form define virtue?
- Why link peace to a dress?
Another view
It reduces complex virtues to simple physical traits.
More from William Blake
To Mercy, Pity, Peace, and Love All pray in their distress; And to these virtues of delight Return their thankfulness.
Permalink to quote #44 The moon like a flower In heaven's high bower, With silent delight, Sits and smiles on the night.
Permalink to quote #46 When my mother died I was very young, And my father sold me while yet my tongue Could scarcely cry 'weep! 'weep! 'weep!'weep! So your chimneys I sweep, and in …
Permalink to quote #43
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