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

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...

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...

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...

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.

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.

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...

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,...

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...

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...

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...

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

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

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...

An amazing invention - but who would ever want to use one?

An amazing invention - but who would ever want to use one?

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...

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....

All I know is just what I read in the papers, and that's an alibi...

All I know is just what I read in the papers, and that's an alibi...

All of the biggest technological inventions created by man - the airplane, the automobile, the...

All of the biggest technological inventions created by man - the airplane, the automobile, the...

Speak when you are angry - and you'll make the best speech you'll ever regret.

Speak when you are angry - and you'll make the best speech you'll ever regret.