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

Quote by Joshua Reynolds

Topics: Joshua Reynolds Quotes

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...

A mere copier of nature can never produce anything great.

A mere copier of nature can never produce anything great.

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...

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

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

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Human subtlety will never devise an invention more beautiful, more simple or more direct than...

Human subtlety will never devise an invention more beautiful, more simple or more direct than...

Necessity, the mother of invention

Necessity, the mother of invention

The greatest inventions were produced in the times of ignorance, as the use of the...

The greatest inventions were produced in the times of ignorance, as the use of the...

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.

To invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk.

To invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk.

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...