The Marriage of Heaven and Hell Religion Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Section.Paragraph)

Quote #7

These two classes of men are always upon earth, and they should be enemies: whoever tries to reconcile them seeks to destroy existence. Religion is an endeavour to reconcile the two. (6.12-6.13)

Religion, you've messed up again. The "two classes of men" here are the Prolific and the Devouring. The Prolific are the creative, energetic, impulsive, and—in religion's eyes—sinful group of people. The Devouring are the restrained, tame, and—in Blake's eyes—weak group of people. The claim here is that religion says that creative, energetic people can also be "good," if they restrain themselves and avoid the classical temptations of sin. Not so, says Blake. Those are two different groups of people who don't belong at the same lunch table.

Quote #8

I tell you, no virtue can exist without breaking these ten commandments. Jesus was all virtue, and acted from impulse, not from rules (8.3)

The speaker has just finished explaining how Jesus broke not one, not two, not three, but all ten commandments at some point and time in his life. Therefore, Blake's argument goes, folks should be valued for being impulsive and independent, not for blindly following the rules.

Quote #9

Let the Priests of the Raven of Dawn, no longer in deadly black, with hoarse note curse the Sons of Joy. Nor his accepted brethren whom, tyrant, he calls free, lay the bound or build the roof. Nor pale religious lechery call that virginity that wishes, but acts not!
For everything that lives is holy. (10.1-10.2)

These are the last words of The Marriage of Heaven and Hell, and Blake reserves them for some parting shots at organized religion. He calls for a time when priests aren't ruining everyone's good time, when religious hypocrites aren't calling folks virgins despite their inner urges to be otherwise. Then he leaves us on an up note: everything is of value to Blake, not just the people who follow the rules of religious fuddy-duddies.