---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Mine is the horny hand of toil."
description: "\"Mine is the horny hand of toil.\" — John Singer Sargent"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1f/john-singer-sargent-27247_hands_mine-is-the-horny-hand-of-toil-1736155_1736155.jpg"
---

#  Mine is the horny hand of toil.

![“Mine is the horny hand of toil.” quote by John Singer Sargent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1f/john-singer-sargent-27247_hands_mine-is-the-horny-hand-of-toil-1736155_1736155.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1f/john-singer-sargent-27247_hands_mine-is-the-horny-hand-of-toil-1736155_1736155.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1f/john-singer-sargent-27247_hands_mine-is-the-horny-hand-of-toil-1736155_1736155.jpg)

> “Mine is the horny hand of toil.”

[John Singer Sargent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-singer-sargent/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The phrase poetically describes hard work as a passionate, demanding force.

**In simple terms:** Hard work is intense and relentless.

Key Takeaway

Embrace effort as a driving force.

Themes

work ethic passion labor

Mood

intense motivational

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- career development
- art creation
- daily tasks
- project deadlines

Key Concepts

creative labor artistic dedication intensity

Questions to Reflect On

- What fuels your dedication?
- When does effort become harmful?

A Different Perspective

Hard work can lead to burnout if unbalanced.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Toil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/toil/)

## Related quotes

> [There is always work, and tools to work withal, for those, who will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/there-is-always-work-and-tools-to-work-withal-for-those-who-will/)

[Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/)

> [No man is born into the world whose work is not born with him. There is always work, and tools to work with, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/no-man-is-born-into-the-world-whose-work-is-not-born-with-him-there/)

[James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/)

> [And blessed are the horny hands of toil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/and-blessed-are-the-horny-hands-of-toil/)

[James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/)

> [Archaeology, I found, comprehended all manner of excitement and achievement. Adventure is coupled with bookish toil. Romantic excursions go hand in hand with scholarly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/archaeology-i-found-comprehended-all-manner-of-excitement-and/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“But young men have not only this frivolous ambition of being thought masters of execution, inciting them on the one hand, but also their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-young-men-have-not-only-this-frivolous-ambition-of-being-thought/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [My God, whose son, as on this night, took on Him the form of man, and for man vouchsafed to suffer and bleed, controls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/my-god-whose-son-as-on-this-night-took-on-him-the-form-of-man-and-for/)

[Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/)

> [With hat in hand, one gets on in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/berthold-auerbach/with-hat-in-hand-one-gets-on-in-the-world/)

[Berthold Auerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/berthold-auerbach/)

> [He never lets go of Annie's hand. Not when they walk, not when they eat. I doubt he ever plans to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/he-never-lets-go-of-annie-s-hand-not-when-they-walk-not-when-they-eat/)

[Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/)

> [A silly row which got out of hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-vaughan/a-silly-row-which-got-out-of-hand/)

[Bill Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-vaughan/)

> [The hand which moves over the dial moves also among souls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/the-hand-which-moves-over-the-dial-moves-also-among-souls/)

[Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/)

> [I still find it absurdly difficult to concentrate on a novel if there's a phone or computer to hand; I have taken to locking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-nicholls/i-still-find-it-absurdly-difficult-to-concentrate-on-a-novel-if-there/)

[David Nicholls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-nicholls/)

> [Love for thy love , and hand for hand I give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/love-for-thy-love-and-hand-for-hand-i-give/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [For the first time in longer than I can remember, I feel peaceful. Not happy. Not sad. Not anxious. Not horny. Just all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/for-the-first-time-in-longer-than-i-can-remember-i-feel-peaceful-not/)

[Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/)

> [“We made love like water makes life, and thinking about it makes me so horny I’m thirsty. My cup runneth over, but if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/we-made-love-like-water-makes-life-and-thinking-about-it-makes-me-so/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [And for me the only way to live life is to grab the bull by the horns and call up recording studios and set…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-frusciante/and-for-me-the-only-way-to-live-life-is-to-grab-the-bull-by-the-horns/)

[John Frusciante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-frusciante/)

## More by John Singer Sargent

> [I hate to paint portraits! I hope never to paint another portrait in my life. Portraiture may be all right for a man in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-singer-sargent/i-hate-to-paint-portraits-i-hope-never-to-paint-another-portrait-in/)

[John Singer Sargent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-singer-sargent/)

> [A portrait is a picture in which there is just a tiny little something not quite right about the mouth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-singer-sargent/a-portrait-is-a-picture-in-which-there-is-just-a-tiny-little/)

[John Singer Sargent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-singer-sargent/)

> [A portrait is a painting with something wrong with the mouth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-singer-sargent/a-portrait-is-a-painting-with-something-wrong-with-the-mouth/)

[John Singer Sargent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-singer-sargent/)

> [“A portrait is a picture with something wrong with the mouth”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-singer-sargent/a-portrait-is-a-picture-with-something-wrong-with-the-mouth/)

[John Singer Sargent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-singer-sargent/)

> [A person with normal eyesight would have nothing to know in the way of 'Impressionism' unless he were in a blinding light or in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-singer-sargent/a-person-with-normal-eyesight-would-have-nothing-to-know-in-the-way/)

[John Singer Sargent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-singer-sargent/)

> [Every time I paint a portrait I lose a friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-singer-sargent/every-time-i-paint-a-portrait-i-lose-a-friend/)

[John Singer Sargent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-singer-sargent/)

> [Color is an inborn gift, but appreciation of value is merely training of the eye, which everyone ought to be able to acquire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-singer-sargent/color-is-an-inborn-gift-but-appreciation-of-value-is-merely-training/)

[John Singer Sargent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-singer-sargent/)

> [Cultivate an ever-continuous power of observation. Wherever you are, be always ready to make slight notes of postures, groups and incidents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-singer-sargent/cultivate-an-ever-continuous-power-of-observation-wherever-you-are-be/)

[John Singer Sargent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-singer-sargent/)

> [Cultivate an ever continuous power of observation. Wherever you are, be always ready to make slight notes of postures, groups and incidents. Store up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-singer-sargent/cultivate-an-ever-continuous-power-of-observation-wherever-you-are-be-2/)

[John Singer Sargent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-singer-sargent/)

> [I don't dig beneath the surface for things that don't appear before my own eyes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-singer-sargent/i-don-t-dig-beneath-the-surface-for-things-that-don-t-appear-before/)

[John Singer Sargent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-singer-sargent/)

> [It is certain that at certain times talent entirely overcomes thought or poetry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-singer-sargent/it-is-certain-that-at-certain-times-talent-entirely-overcomes-thought/)

[John Singer Sargent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-singer-sargent/)

> [Make the best of an emergency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-singer-sargent/make-the-best-of-an-emergency/)

[John Singer Sargent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-singer-sargent/)

> [You can't do sketches enough. Sketch everything and keep your curiosity fresh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-singer-sargent/you-can-t-do-sketches-enough-sketch-everything-and-keep-your/)

[John Singer Sargent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-singer-sargent/)

> [If you begin with the middle-tone and work up from it toward the darks so that you deal last with your highest lights and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-singer-sargent/if-you-begin-with-the-middle-tone-and-work-up-from-it-toward-the/)

[John Singer Sargent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-singer-sargent/)

> [The thicker you paint, the more it flows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-singer-sargent/the-thicker-you-paint-the-more-it-flows/)

[John Singer Sargent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-singer-sargent/)

[Explore all 21 John Singer Sargent quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-singer-sargent/)

## More Hand quotes

> [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/)

[Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/)

> [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/)

[Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/)

> [“He reached over for her hand. "I'm here for you. What's mine is yours. I'll share everything I have with you - knowledge, money,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-gray/he-reached-over-for-her-hand-i-m-here-for-you-what-s-mine-is-yours-i/)

[Amanda Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-gray/)

> [I really believe if GSP and Silva fight, Georges will have his hand raised.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-hughes/i-really-believe-if-gsp-and-silva-fight-georges-will-have-his-hand/)

[Matt Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-hughes/)

> [I love fashion. I like dressing how I feel, and my music shows how I feel - they go hand in hand. My performance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banks/i-love-fashion-i-like-dressing-how-i-feel-and-my-music-shows-how-i/)

[Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banks/)

> [I have my meals delivered... you know what I like? Chicken and rice... But the problem with being a defensive lineman is, if we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-douglas/i-have-my-meals-delivered-you-know-what-i-like-chicken-and-rice-but/)

[Hugh Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-douglas/)

> [He never lets go of Annie's hand. Not when they walk, not when they eat. I doubt he ever plans to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/he-never-lets-go-of-annie-s-hand-not-when-they-walk-not-when-they-eat/)

[Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/)

> [Me seeing how thick my callous is on my hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-country/me-seeing-how-thick-my-callous-is-on-my-hand/)

[Michael Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-country/)

> [Music and the WWE go hand-in-hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enzo-amore/music-and-the-wwe-go-hand-in-hand/)

[Enzo Amore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enzo-amore/)

> [I still find it absurdly difficult to concentrate on a novel if there's a phone or computer to hand; I have taken to locking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-nicholls/i-still-find-it-absurdly-difficult-to-concentrate-on-a-novel-if-there/)

[David Nicholls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-nicholls/)

> [Looking back now, thinking about that moment in the lights, with my heart pounding, Oscar in my hand, all I can say is I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/looking-back-now-thinking-about-that-moment-in-the-lights-with-my/)

[Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/)

> [As a layperson, I consider myself fairly well-educated in terms of politics. My family always has been really interested in politics, and various members…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reid-scott/as-a-layperson-i-consider-myself-fairly-well-educated-in-terms-of/)

[Reid Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reid-scott/)

> [Being authentic can be a good thing in that often people who are fixated on that are also fixated on having very high standards,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-meyer/being-authentic-can-be-a-good-thing-in-that-often-people-who-are/)

[Edgar Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-meyer/)

> [“You mean you don't want to come in and hold my hand while I piss?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nenia-campbell/you-mean-you-don-t-want-to-come-in-and-hold-my-hand-while-i-piss/)

[Nenia Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nenia-campbell/)

> [Candidate Trump held out his hand to Vladimir Putin. He rejected further U.S. intervention in Syria other than to smash ISIS.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/candidate-trump-held-out-his-hand-to-vladimir-putin-he-rejected/)

[Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/)

Browse all 1,848 Hand quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Mine is the horny hand of toil.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "John Singer Sargent"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-singer-sargent/mine-is-the-horny-hand-of-toil/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Hand"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-singer-sargent/mine-is-the-horny-hand-of-toil/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1f/john-singer-sargent-27247_hands_mine-is-the-horny-hand-of-toil-1736155_1736155.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1f/john-singer-sargent-27247_hands_mine-is-the-horny-hand-of-toil-1736155_1736155.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1f/john-singer-sargent-27247_hands_mine-is-the-horny-hand-of-toil-1736155_1736155.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Mine is the horny hand of toil.” — John Singer Sargent",
                "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": "John Singer Sargent",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-singer-sargent/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Mine is the horny hand of...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-singer-sargent/mine-is-the-horny-hand-of-toil/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-singer-sargent/mine-is-the-horny-hand-of-toil/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
