--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A mere copier of nature can never produce…" description: "\"A mere copier of nature can never produce anything great.\" — Joshua Reynolds" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2df/joshua-reynolds-8159_copiers_a-mere-copier-of-nature-can-never-produc_481779.jpg" --- # A mere copier of nature can never produce anything great. ![“A mere copier of nature can never produce anything great.” quote by Joshua Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2df/joshua-reynolds-8159_copiers_a-mere-copier-of-nature-can-never-produc_481779.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2df/joshua-reynolds-8159_copiers_a-mere-copier-of-nature-can-never-produc_481779.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2df/joshua-reynolds-8159_copiers_a-mere-copier-of-nature-can-never-produc_481779.jpg) > “A mere copier of nature can never produce anything great.” [Joshua Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-reynolds/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Mimicking nature alone cannot achieve greatness. **In simple terms:** Copying nature isn’t enough for true art. Key Takeaway Innovate beyond mere imitation. Themes art originality nature Mood inspirational philosophical Type artistic educational When to use this quote - painting - design - creative education Key Concepts philosophy aesthetics Questions to Reflect On - How can artists balance observation and invention? - What defines originality in art? A Different Perspective Nature provides inspiration, not the final product. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Copiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/copiers/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Originality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/originality/) ## Related quotes > [A mere copier of nature can never produce any thing great, can never raise and enlarge the conceptions, or warm the heart of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-reynolds/a-mere-copier-of-nature-can-never-produce-any-thing-great-can-never/) [Joshua Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-reynolds/) > [I am just a copier, an impostor. I wait, I read magazines. After a while my brain sends me a product.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-starck/i-am-just-a-copier-an-impostor-i-wait-i-read-magazines-after-a-while/) [Philippe Starck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-starck/) > [The authour who imitates his predecessors only by furnishing himself with thoughts and elegances out of the same general magazine of literature, can with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-authour-who-imitates-his-predecessors-only-by-furnishing-himself/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“Ash took the papers to the copier.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/ash-took-the-papers-to-the-copier/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [Poet is not a copier but a creator.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rmkatta/poet-is-not-a-copier-but-a-creator/) RMKATTA > [Create your own style, don't always be copier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/create-your-own-style-don-t-always-be-copier/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ “Do either one of you know how to turn this thing on?" I join him and punch a couple buttons on the \[printer's\] front… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-acampora/do-either-one-of-you-know-how-to-turn-this-thing-on-i-join-him-and/) [Paul Acampora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-acampora/) > [Once the Xerox copier was invented, diplomacy died.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-young/once-the-xerox-copier-was-invented-diplomacy-died/) [Andrew Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-young/) > [The instinct to produce great work doesn't require a fancy notebook.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/the-instinct-to-produce-great-work-doesn-t-require-a-fancy-notebook/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [I've worked in many companies, and I think that, number one, if you are going to have a great environment, you produce great work...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tory-burch/i-ve-worked-in-many-companies-and-i-think-that-number-one-if-you-are/) [Tory Burch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tory-burch/) > [Tests with India always produce some great finishes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/inzamam-ul-haq/tests-with-india-always-produce-some-great-finishes/) [Inzamam-ul-Haq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/inzamam-ul-haq/) > [No man can produce great things who is not thoroughly sincere in dealing with himself, who would not exchange the finest show for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/no-man-can-produce-great-things-who-is-not-thoroughly-sincere-in/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [“The passion to produce is very great. One man, who has not yet been assigned his little garden plot, is hopefully watering a jimson…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/the-passion-to-produce-is-very-great-one-man-who-has-not-yet-been/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [Great countries are those that produce great people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/great-countries-are-those-that-produce-great-people/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Only great and general battles can produce great results](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/only-great-and-general-battles-can-produce-great-results/) [Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) ## More by Joshua Reynolds > [Words should be employed as the means, not the end; language is the instrument, conviction is the work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-reynolds/words-should-be-employed-as-the-means-not-the-end-language-is-the/) [Joshua Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-reynolds/) > [Grandeur of effect is produced by two different ways which seem entirely opposed to each other. One is by reducing the colors to little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-reynolds/grandeur-of-effect-is-produced-by-two-different-ways-which-seem/) [Joshua Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-reynolds/) > [And he who does not know himself does not know others, so it may be said with equal truth, that he who does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-reynolds/and-he-who-does-not-know-himself-does-not-know-others-so-it-may-be/) [Joshua Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-reynolds/) > [If you have great talents, industry will improve them: if you have but moderate abilities, industry will supply their deficiency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-reynolds/if-you-have-great-talents-industry-will-improve-them-if-you-have-but/) [Joshua Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-reynolds/) > [Certainly, nothing can be more simple than monotony.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-reynolds/certainly-nothing-can-be-more-simple-than-monotony/) [Joshua Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-reynolds/) > [The real character of a man is found out by his amusements…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-reynolds/the-real-character-of-a-man-is-found-out-by-his-amusements/) [Joshua Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-reynolds/) > [The general ideas which are expressed in sketches, correspond very well to the art often used in poetry... every reader making out the detail…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-reynolds/the-general-ideas-which-are-expressed-in-sketches-correspond-very/) [Joshua Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-reynolds/) > [All the gestures of children are graceful; the reign of distortion and unnatural attitudes commences with the introduction of the dancing master.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-reynolds/all-the-gestures-of-children-are-graceful-the-reign-of-distortion-and/) [Joshua Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-reynolds/) > [Our studies will be forever, in a very great degree, under the direction of chance; like travelers, we must take what we can get,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-reynolds/our-studies-will-be-forever-in-a-very-great-degree-under-the/) [Joshua Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-reynolds/) > [Style in painting is the same as in writing; a power over materials, whether words or colors, by which conceptions or sentiments are conveyed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-reynolds/style-in-painting-is-the-same-as-in-writing-a-power-over-materials/) [Joshua Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-reynolds/) > [The distinct blue, red, and yellow colors... though they have not the kind of harmony which is produced by a variety of broken and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-reynolds/the-distinct-blue-red-and-yellow-colors-though-they-have-not-the-kind/) [Joshua Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-reynolds/) > [I do not see in what manner practice alone can be sufficient for the production of correct, excellent, and finished pictures. Works deserving this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-reynolds/i-do-not-see-in-what-manner-practice-alone-can-be-sufficient-for-the/) [Joshua Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-reynolds/) > [There can be no doubt but that he who has the most materials has the greatest means of invention...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-reynolds/there-can-be-no-doubt-but-that-he-who-has-the-most-materials-has-the/) [Joshua Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-reynolds/) > [Excellence is never granted to man, but as the reward of labour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-reynolds/excellence-is-never-granted-to-man-but-as-the-reward-of-labour/) [Joshua Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-reynolds/) > [Could we teach taste or genius by rules, they would be no longer taste and genius.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-reynolds/could-we-teach-taste-or-genius-by-rules-they-would-be-no-longer-taste/) [Joshua Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-reynolds/) [Explore all 83 Joshua Reynolds quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-reynolds/) ## More Copiers quotes > [The power of a text is different when it is read from when it is copied out. Only the copied text thus commands the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-benjamin/the-power-of-a-text-is-different-when-it-is-read-from-when-it-is/) [Walter Benjamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-benjamin/) > [We are stereotyped creatures, imitators and copiers of our past selves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/we-are-stereotyped-creatures-imitators-and-copiers-of-our-past-selves/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [When a copier sales person cold calls a purchasing manager whom he has never met is it any surprise that the purchasing manager will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-turner/when-a-copier-sales-person-cold-calls-a-purchasing-manager-whom-he/) [Josh Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-turner/) > [It's obvious why the copiers, they copy this, soon as my data processes Y2K they floppy disk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakim/it-s-obvious-why-the-copiers-they-copy-this-soon-as-my-data-processes/) [Rakim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakim/) > [No man, however enslaved to his appetites, or hurried by his passions, can, while he preserves his intellects unimpaired, please himself with promoting the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/no-man-however-enslaved-to-his-appetites-or-hurried-by-his-passions/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Nature in no case cometh short of art, for the arts are copiers of natural forms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/nature-in-no-case-cometh-short-of-art-for-the-arts-are-copiers-of/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [...when we perfect 3-D copiers and they reproduce tissue, we'll have a million Marilyns walking around with no souls...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-we-perfect-3-d-copiers-and-they-reproduce-tissue-we-ll-have-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Once the Xerox copier was invented, private diplomacy died. There's no such thing as secrecy. It's just a question of whether it's leaked or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-young/once-the-xerox-copier-was-invented-private-diplomacy-died-there-s-no/) [Andrew Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-young/) > [Several years ago we had an intern who was none too swift. One day he was typing and turned to a secretary and said,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/several-years-ago-we-had-an-intern-who-was-none-too-swift-one-day-he/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [The authour who imitates his predecessors only by furnishing himself with thoughts and elegances out of the same general magazine of literature, can with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-authour-who-imitates-his-predecessors-only-by-furnishing-himself/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The power of a text when it is read is different from the power it has when it is copied out. Only the copied…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-benjamin/the-power-of-a-text-when-it-is-read-is-different-from-the-power-it/) [Walter Benjamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-benjamin/) > [Photographers, you will never become artists. All you are is mere copiers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-baudelaire/photographers-you-will-never-become-artists-all-you-are-is-mere/) [Charles Baudelaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-baudelaire/) > [I am just a copier, an impostor. I wait, I read magazines. After a while my brain sends me a product.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-starck/i-am-just-a-copier-an-impostor-i-wait-i-read-magazines-after-a-while/) [Philippe Starck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-starck/) > [A mere copier of nature can never produce any thing great, can never raise and enlarge the conceptions, or warm the heart of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-reynolds/a-mere-copier-of-nature-can-never-produce-any-thing-great-can-never/) [Joshua Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-reynolds/) > [How little inventiveness there is in man, Grave copier of copies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/how-little-inventiveness-there-is-in-man-grave-copier-of-copies/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) [Browse all 17 Copiers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/copiers/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A mere copier of nature can never produce anything great.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Joshua Reynolds" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-reynolds/a-mere-copier-of-nature-can-never-produce-anything-great/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Copiers" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-reynolds/a-mere-copier-of-nature-can-never-produce-anything-great/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2df/joshua-reynolds-8159_copiers_a-mere-copier-of-nature-can-never-produc_481779.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2df/joshua-reynolds-8159_copiers_a-mere-copier-of-nature-can-never-produc_481779.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2df/joshua-reynolds-8159_copiers_a-mere-copier-of-nature-can-never-produc_481779.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A mere copier of nature can never produce anything great.” — Joshua Reynolds", "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": "Joshua Reynolds", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-reynolds/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A mere copier of nature can...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-reynolds/a-mere-copier-of-nature-can-never-produce-anything-great/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-reynolds/a-mere-copier-of-nature-can-never-produce-anything-great/#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 } } ] } ```