“Nothing should be made by man's labour which is not worth making; or which must be made by labour degrading to the makers.”

— William Morris, Art and Socialism, 1884

About William Morris

1834 – 1896

English designer, poet and socialist, a leader of the Arts and Crafts movement.

“It is of the nature of man, when he is not diseased, to take pleasure in his work under certain conditions.”

“The greatest foe to art is luxury, art cannot live in its atmosphere.”

“I do not want art for a few, any more than education for a few, or freedom for a few.”

“It isn't enough to talk about peace. One must believe in it. And it isn't enough to believe in it. One must work at it.”

“He is the greatest artist who has embodied, in the sum of his works, the greatest number of the greatest ideas.”

“Work first and then rest. Work first, and then gaze, but do not use golden ploughshares, nor bind ledgers in enamel.”

“The electron is a theory we use; it is so useful in understanding the way nature works that we can almost call it real.”

“We shall make mistakes; and if we let these mistakes frighten us from our work we shall show ourselves weaklings.”

“I still believe that when people really make the effort to understand each other, the possibilities are limitless.”