Auguries of Innocence Life, Consciousness, and Existence Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Line)

Quote #1

To see a World in a Grain of Sand
And a Heaven in a Wild Flower,
Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand
And Eternity in an hour. (1-4)

These lines provide the key to the rest of the poem. Blake wants you to take its advice, and look for big realities hidden in small images.

Quote #2

The wild deer, wand'ring here & there,
Keeps the Human Soul from Care. (21-22)

A carefree human soul is kind of like a wild deer—since the deer doesn't have any greater obligations, it's free to go where it wants to go. Unlike the robin in a cage at the beginning of the poem, the deer is an image of freedom.

Quote #3

Joy & Woe are woven fine,
A Clothing for the Soul divine;
Under every grief & pine
Runs a joy with silken twine. (59-62)

Joy and woe are like clothing for the soul because they're experiences that it puts on when it enters the world. Joy is made of "silken twine" because it's like the fine Under Armor that lies beneath a coarse layer of outerwear (woe).