Mock on, mock on, Voltaire, Rousseau;
Mock on, mock on, 'tis all in vain!
You throw the sand against the wind,
And the wind blows it back again.
. . .
The Atoms of Democritus
And Newton's Particles of Light
Are sands upon the Red Sea shore,
Where Israel's tents do shine so bright.

In this excerpt from William Blake's poem, the futility of the rationalist mockery of spiritual beliefs is laid bare. Blake uses the metaphor of sand tossed against the wind to depict the ineffectiveness of Enlightenment thinkers like Voltaire and Rousseau. To Blake, their criticisms are as futile as trying to defy nature itself. The wind, representing a force greater than human intellect, simply returns the effort back to its origin. Furthermore, Blake contrasts the materialist views of Democritus and Newton with the enduring spiritual legacy represented by the "Red Sea shore" and "Israel's tents." Here, Blake suggests that despite scientific endeavors to unravel mysteries of the universe, the spiritual and mystical aspects of existence continue to shine brilliantly. This critique reflects Blake's resistance to the Enlightenment's rationality, advocating for a worldview where mysticism holds significant value.