It is but a poor eloquence which only shows that the orator can talk.

Quote by Joshua Reynolds

Topics: Joshua Reynolds Quotes

A mere copier of nature can never produce anything great.

A mere copier of nature can never produce anything great.

Few have been taught to any purpose who have not been their own teachers.

Few have been taught to any purpose who have not been their own teachers.

The greatest man is he who forms the taste of a nation; the next greatest...

The greatest man is he who forms the taste of a nation; the next greatest...

There is no expedient to which a man will not resort to avoid the real...

There is no expedient to which a man will not resort to avoid the real...

The real character of a man is found out by his amusements.

The real character of a man is found out by his amusements.

Words should be employed as the means, not the end; language is the instrument, conviction...

Words should be employed as the means, not the end; language is the instrument, conviction...

Could we teach taste or genius by rules, they would be no longer taste and...

Could we teach taste or genius by rules, they would be no longer taste and...

If you have great talents, industry will improve them: if you have but moderate abilities,...

If you have great talents, industry will improve them: if you have but moderate abilities,...

All the gestures of children are graceful; the reign of distortion and unnatural attitudes commences...

All the gestures of children are graceful; the reign of distortion and unnatural attitudes commences...

A room hung with pictures is a room hung with thoughts.

A room hung with pictures is a room hung with thoughts.

Invention, strictly speaking, is little more than a new combination of those images which have...

Invention, strictly speaking, is little more than a new combination of those images which have...

The value and rank of every art is in proportion to the mental labor employed...

The value and rank of every art is in proportion to the mental labor employed...

There is no expedient to which a man will not resort to avoid the real...

There is no expedient to which a man will not resort to avoid the real...

The greatest man is he who forms the taste of a nation; the next greatest...

The greatest man is he who forms the taste of a nation; the next greatest...

Invention, strictly speaking, is little more than a new combination of those images which have...

Invention, strictly speaking, is little more than a new combination of those images which have...

There's such a thing as theater discipline. One player doesn't appropriate another's inventions.

There's such a thing as theater discipline. One player doesn't appropriate another's inventions.

I'm more interested in what I discover than what I invent

I'm more interested in what I discover than what I invent

I never did anything worth doing by accident, nor did any of my inventions come...

I never did anything worth doing by accident, nor did any of my inventions come...

Necessity, the mother of invention

Necessity, the mother of invention

Where a new invention promises to be useful, it ought to be tried

Where a new invention promises to be useful, it ought to be tried

If it were possible to talk to the unborn, one could never explain to them...

If it were possible to talk to the unborn, one could never explain to them...