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

Quote by Joshua Reynolds

Topics: Greatness Quotes

A mere copier of nature can never produce anything great.

A mere copier of nature can never produce anything great.

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

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

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,...

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...

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...

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...

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

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

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...

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...

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

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

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...

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...

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...

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...

My country has contrived for me the most insignificant office that ever the invention of...

My country has contrived for me the most insignificant office that ever the invention of...

Never under any circumstances take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night

Never under any circumstances take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night

Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things....

Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things....

The march of invention has clothed mankind with powers of which a century ago the...

The march of invention has clothed mankind with powers of which a century ago the...

Telephone, n. An invention of the devil which abrogates some of the advantages of making...

Telephone, n. An invention of the devil which abrogates some of the advantages of making...

Talking and eloquence are not the same: to speak and to speak well are two...

Talking and eloquence are not the same: to speak and to speak well are two...