Consequently the student who is devoid of talent will derive no more profit from this work than barren soil from a treatise on agriculture.
QuintilianRead
The perfection of art is to conceal art.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The finest art appears effortless and hides its own techniques and processes.
Quintilian's quote suggests that true mastery in art lies in the ability to create works that seem natural and effortless, making the underlying techniques and craft invisible to the observer. This idea emphasizes that the greatest artists are those who can evoke emotion and meaning in their work without overtly revealing the mechanics of how they achieved it, thus enhancing the viewer's experience and engagement with the art.
Themes
ArtPerfectionConcealMasteryCreativity
In practice
Example use cases
In a lecture about the nuances of artistic expression, this quote could be used to illustrate the idea of subtlety in art.
More from Quintilian
All quotes βAs regards parents, I should like to see them as highly educated as possible, and I do not restrict this remark to fathers alone.
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Whilst we deliberate how to begin a thing, it grows too late to begin it.
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A laugh costs too much when bought at the expense of virtue.
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An evil-speaker differs from an evil-doer only in the want of opportunity.
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It is the nurse that the child first hears, and her words that he will first attempt to imitate.
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