Skip to content

Art Quote by Horace

“A picture is a poem without words” quote by Horace — Download Open image

“A picture is a poem without words”

About This Quote

Source Poem: Odes, Horace, 23 BC

A visual image can convey the same depth as a poem without using words.

In simple terms: Images speak like poetry.

Key Takeaway

Use visual art to express complex feelings.

Themes

art communication poetry

Mood

contemplative inspired

Type

poetic artistic

When to use this quote

photography
painting
graphic design

Key Concepts

visual metaphor symbolism non‑verbal expression

Questions to Reflect On

What emotions can a picture evoke that words cannot?
How do cultural backgrounds affect visual interpretation?

A Different Perspective

Images may be misinterpreted without context.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2.7 out of 5 (8 ratings)

Art Language Photography Picture Picture Poem Poem Poem Words Poetry Words

More by Horace

Strange - is it not? That of the myriads who Before us passed the door of Darkness through, Not one returns to tell us…

Image

“Finxerunt animi, raro et perpauca loquentis. (To action little, less to words inclinded.)”

Image

No verse can give pleasure for long, nor last, that is written by drinkers of water.

Image

Fate with impartial hand turns out the doom of high and low; her capacious urn is constantly shaking the names of all mankind.

Image

A word, once sent abroad, flies irrevocably.

Image

“Natales grate numeras? (Do you count your birthdays with gratitude?)”

Image

In a moment comes either death or joyful victory. [Lat., Horae Momento cita mors venit aut victoria laeta.]

Image

Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori - It is a sweet and becoming thing to die for ones country.

Image

Neither men, nor gods, nor booksellers' shelves permit ordinary poets to exist. [Lat., Mediocribus esse poetis Non homines, non di, non concessere columnae.]

Image

Don't yield to that alluring witch, laziness, or else be prepared to surrender all that you have won in your better moments.

Image

Avoid inquisitive persons, for they are sure to be gossips, their ears are open to hear, but they will not keep what is entrusted…

Image

“You may drive out Nature with a pitchfork, yet she still will hurry back.”

Image

Explore all 1,000 Horace quotes

More Art quotes

True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Image

Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…

Benjamin Franklin

Image

“Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.”

Image

I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…

Image

The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.

Image

That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.

Image

“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…

Justina Chen Headley

Image

“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…

Image

The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.

Image

During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.

Herbert Spencer

Image

In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…

Robert Aris Willmott

Image

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…

Image

Browse all 48,652 Art quotes