“The cistern contains: the fountain overflows.”

— William Blake

Source: 1790s, The Marriage of Heaven and Hell (1790–1793), Proverbs of Hell, Line 35

Adopted from Wikiquote. Last update June 3, 2021. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Do you have more details about the quote "The cistern contains: the fountain overflows." by William Blake?

William Blake photo

William Blake 249

English Romantic poet and artist 1757–1827

Related quotes

“Be like the fountain that overflows, not like the cistern that merely contains.”

Paulo Coelho (1947) Brazilian lyricist and novelist

Source: Veronika Decides to Die

“Every object and being in the universe is
a jar overflowing with wisdom and beauty,
a drop of the Tigris that cannot be contained
by any skin.”

Rumi (1207–1273) Iranian poet

"The Gift of Water" Ch. 18 : The Three Fish, p. 200
The Essential Rumi (1995)
Context: Every object and being in the universe is
a jar overflowing with wisdom and beauty,
a drop of the Tigris that cannot be contained
by any skin. Every jarful spills and makes the earth
more shining, as though covered in satin.

“Unlike a fountain that circulates the same water in an enclosed, perpetually recycling system, a human being circulates thoughts in an unlimited reservoir of self.

Don't limit yourself to being a mere fountain when you contain an ocean.”

Vera Nazarian (1966) American writer

Source: The Perpetual Calendar of Inspiration

“Luxurious food and drinks, in no way protect you from harm. Wealth beyond what is natural, is no more use than an overflowing container. Real value is not generated by theaters, and baths, perfumes or ointments, but by philosophy.”

Epicurus (-341–-269 BC) ancient Greek philosopher

From the esplanade wall at Oenoanda, now in Turkey, as recorded by Diogenes of Oenoanda

“An organic system is like a fountain balanced upon a pyramid of fountains.”

William Foote Whyte (1914–2000) American sociologist

Source: Human relations in the restaurant industry. 1948, p. 49

“Three coins in a fountain
Each one seeking happiness
Thrown by three hopeful lovers
Which one will the fountain bless?”

Sammy Cahn (1913–1993) American lyricist, songwriter, musician

Three Coins in a Fountain (1954)
Song lyrics

“A film is a petrified fountain of thought.”

Jean Cocteau (1889–1963) French poet, novelist, dramatist, designer, boxing manager and filmmaker

Esquire magazine (February 1961)

“Wealth is the fountain head of passions.”

Ali book Nahj al-Balagha

Nahj al-Balagha

“The fountains of sacred rivers flow upwards.”

Euripidés Medea

Source: Medea (431 BC), Line 409

“By definition, if prose is a river, poetry is a fountain.”

Michael Longley (1939) poet

'Poetry Ireland Review' Summer 1999

Related topics