Who said “The man who never alters his opinion is like standing water, and breeds reptiles of the…”?

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William Blake. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceThe Marriage of Heaven and Hell (1790–1793)

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“The man who never alters his opinion is like standing water, and breeds reptiles of the mind.”
— William Blake
VerifiedThe Marriage of Heaven and Hell (1790–1793) · evidenceOpinions

Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: The Marriage of Heaven and Hell (1790–1793).

APA

Blake, W. (n.d.). The man who never alters his opinion is like standing water, and breeds reptiles of the mind. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/31426-the-man-who-never-alters-his-opinion-is/

MLA

Blake, William. “The man who never alters his opinion is like standing water, and breeds reptiles of the mind.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/31426-the-man-who-never-alters-his-opinion-is/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Blake, William. “The man who never alters his opinion is like standing water, and breeds reptiles of the mind.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/31426-the-man-who-never-alters-his-opinion-is/.

Related quotes

“Do not fear to be eccentric in opinion, for every opinion now accepted was once eccentric.”
— Bertrand Russell
Verified"A Liberal Decalogue", from "The Best Answer to Fanaticism: Liberalism", New York Times Magazine (16/December/1951); later printed in The Autobiography of Bertrand Russell (1969), vol. 3: 1944-1967, pp. 71-2 · evidenceDetails & citeOpinions

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