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

— William Morris, The Beauty of Life, 1880

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.”

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

“So I say, if you cannot learn to love real art; at least learn to hate sham art and reject it.”

“Life imitates art far more than art imitates Life.”

“Life is earnest, art is gay.”

“In art, as in nature and in life, relations are modes of interaction.”

“We do not pretend that life is all beauty.”

“Art like life should be free, since both are experimental.”

“Art is long, life short, judgment difficult, opportunity transient.”