--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The true picture of life as it is, if it…" description: "\"The true picture of life as it is, if it could be adequately painted, would show men what they are, and how they might rise, not, indeed to perfection,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be1/anthony-trollope-611_artist_the-true-picture-of-life-as-it-is-if-it_343014.jpg" --- # The true picture of life as it is, if it could be… ![“The true picture of life as it is, if it could be adequately painted, would show men what they are, and how they might rise, not, indeed to perfection, but one step first, and then another on the ladder.” quote by Anthony Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be1/anthony-trollope-611_artist_the-true-picture-of-life-as-it-is-if-it_343014.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be1/anthony-trollope-611_artist_the-true-picture-of-life-as-it-is-if-it_343014.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be1/anthony-trollope-611_artist_the-true-picture-of-life-as-it-is-if-it_343014.jpg) > “The true picture of life as it is, if it could be adequately painted, would show men what they are, and how they might rise, not, indeed to perfection, but one step first, and then another on the ladder.” [Anthony Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-trollope/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. If life could be fully depicted, it would reveal humanity's current state and the incremental steps needed for improvement, not perfection. **In simple terms:** Life shows where we are and how we can gradually improve. Key Takeaway Focus on steady progress rather than flawless ideals. Themes self‑improvement human nature progress Mood motivational realistic Type self‑help philosophical When to use this quote - career development - personal growth - social reform - education planning Key Concepts philosophy psychology ethics Questions to Reflect On - What small step can you take toward a larger goal? - How do you measure meaningful progress? A Different Perspective Perfectionist attitudes may hinder realistic goal‑setting. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Ladder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ladder/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Perfection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfection/) ## Related quotes > [My dad was always busy. You would pop round for a cup of tea, and within minutes you would see him walking past with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-joyce/my-dad-was-always-busy-you-would-pop-round-for-a-cup-of-tea-and/) [Rachel Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-joyce/) > [Step by step the ladder is ascended.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/step-by-step-the-ladder-is-ascended/) [George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/) > [I was doing some decorating, so I got out my step-ladder. 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For the distance is altered, and it is like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/men-of-noble-birth-are-noted-to-be-envious-towards-new-men-when-they/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [Having glimpsed a small part of life, men rise up and disappear as smoke, knowing only what each one has learned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/empedocles/having-glimpsed-a-small-part-of-life-men-rise-up-and-disappear-as/) [Empedocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/empedocles/) > [Men may rise on stepping stones of their dead selves to higher things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zane-grey/men-may-rise-on-stepping-stones-of-their-dead-selves-to-higher-things/) [Zane Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zane-grey/) ## More by Anthony Trollope > [“I have from the first felt sure that the writer, when he sits down to commence his novel, should do so, not because he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/i-have-from-the-first-felt-sure-that-the-writer-when-he-sits-down-to/) [Anthony Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-trollope/) > [Things to be done offer themselves, I suppose, because they are in themselves desirable; not because it is desirable to have something to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/things-to-be-done-offer-themselves-i-suppose-because-they-are-in/) [Anthony Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-trollope/) > [A small daily task, if it be really daily, will beat the labours of a spasmodic Hercules.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/a-small-daily-task-if-it-be-really-daily-will-beat-the-labours-of-a/) [Anthony Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-trollope/) > [You men find so many angels in your travels. You have been honester than some. You have generally been off with the old angel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/you-men-find-so-many-angels-in-your-travels-you-have-been-honester/) [Anthony Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-trollope/) > [The man who worships mere wealth is a snob.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/the-man-who-worships-mere-wealth-is-a-snob/) [Anthony Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-trollope/) > [To feel that your hours are filled to overflowing, that you can barely steal minutes enough for sleep, that the welfare of many is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/to-feel-that-your-hours-are-filled-to-overflowing-that-you-can-barely/) [Anthony Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-trollope/) > [It is necessary to get a lot of men together, for the show of the thing, otherwise the world will not believe. 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That's a well-known fact. They've nothing to trouble them, and they live for ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/but-mad-people-never-die-that-s-a-well-known-fact-they-ve-nothing-to/) [Anthony Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-trollope/) > [Since woman's rights have come up a young woman is better able to fight her own battle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/since-woman-s-rights-have-come-up-a-young-woman-is-better-able-to/) [Anthony Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-trollope/) > [“The heroes of life are so much better than the heroes of romance,” said Caroline.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/the-heroes-of-life-are-so-much-better-than-the-heroes-of-romance-said/) [Anthony Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-trollope/) [Explore all 448 Anthony Trollope quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-trollope/) ## More Artist quotes > [One is a painter because one wants so-called freedom; one doesn't want to go to the office every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/one-is-a-painter-because-one-wants-so-called-freedom-one-doesn-t-want/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [“People in coats and ties were milling around the Talley gallery, and on the wall were the minimally rendered still lifes by Giorgio Morandi,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/people-in-coats-and-ties-were-milling-around-the-talley-gallery-and/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [The prophet who fails to present a bearable alternative and yet preaches doom is part of the trap that he postulates. Not only does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/the-prophet-who-fails-to-present-a-bearable-alternative-and-yet/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) Taf Teh > [From as long as I can remember, I was always fond of drawing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-lucia/from-as-long-as-i-can-remember-i-was-always-fond-of-drawing/) [St. Lucia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-lucia/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [Designers shouldn’t design for museums any more than mummies should die for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-caplan/designers-shouldn-t-design-for-museums-any-more-than-mummies-should/) [Ralph Caplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-caplan/) > [I don't believe in competitions between artists. This is insane. Who has the authority to say someone is better?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-don-t-believe-in-competitions-between-artists-this-is-insane-who/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [I am not the avant-garde. I am the artist who comes after the advancing guard. I am more concerned with continuity of ideas and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-oliveira/i-am-not-the-avant-garde-i-am-the-artist-who-comes-after-the/) [Nathan Oliveira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-oliveira/) > [I am a horrible visual artist. I can't fix a car, sew, knit, cook, etc. Statistically, there is more I don't do than do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-brownstein/i-am-a-horrible-visual-artist-i-can-t-fix-a-car-sew-knit-cook-etc/) [Carrie Brownstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-brownstein/) [Browse all 32,600 Artist quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The true picture of life as it is, if it could be adequately painted, would show men what they are, and how they might rise, not, indeed to perfection, but one step first, and then another on the ladder.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Anthony Trollope" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/the-true-picture-of-life-as-it-is-if-it-could-be-adequately-painted/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Artist" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/the-true-picture-of-life-as-it-is-if-it-could-be-adequately-painted/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be1/anthony-trollope-611_artist_the-true-picture-of-life-as-it-is-if-it_343014.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be1/anthony-trollope-611_artist_the-true-picture-of-life-as-it-is-if-it_343014.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be1/anthony-trollope-611_artist_the-true-picture-of-life-as-it-is-if-it_343014.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The true picture of life as it is, if it could be adequately painted, would show men what they are, and how…” — Anthony Trollope", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Anthony Trollope", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-trollope/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The true picture of life as...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/the-true-picture-of-life-as-it-is-if-it-could-be-adequately-painted/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/the-true-picture-of-life-as-it-is-if-it-could-be-adequately-painted/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```