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The humblest painter is a true scholar; and the best of scholars the scholar of nature.
William Hazlitt
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Interpretation

What this quote means

This quote emphasizes the importance of humility and observation in both art and scholarship.

William Hazlitt suggests that true artistry comes from a deep understanding and respect for nature, implying that even the simplest painter embodies profound knowledge, while the most knowledgeable scholar is one who learns from the natural world. The quote highlights the interconnectedness of art and nature, advocating for a humble and observant approach to both disciplines.

Themes

ArtNatureHumilityKnowledgeScholarship

In practice

Example use cases

This quote could be used in an art class to encourage students to observe nature.

More from William Hazlitt

Pride is founded not on the sense of happiness, but on the sense of power.
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The world loves to be amused by hollow professions, to be deceived by flattering appearances, to live in a state of hallucination; and can forgive everything but the plain, downright, simple, honest truth.
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Our repugnance to death increases in proportion to our consciousness of having lived in vain.
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We can bear to be deprived of everything but our self-conceit.
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There are few things in which we deceive ourselves more than in the esteem we profess to entertain for our firends. It is little better than a piece of quackery. The truth is, we think of them as we please, that is, as they please or displease us.
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Prosperity is a great teacher; adversity is a greater. Possession pampers the mind; privation trains and strengthens it.
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