--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Approach a great painting as thou wouldst…" description: "\"“Approach a great painting as thou wouldst approach a great prince.”\" — Kakuzō Okakura" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/894/kakuz-okakura-14816_art_approach-a-great-painting-as-thou-woulds_1322619.jpg" --- # Approach a great painting as thou wouldst approach a great… ![“Approach a great painting as thou wouldst approach a great prince.” quote by Kakuzō Okakura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/894/kakuz-okakura-14816_art_approach-a-great-painting-as-thou-woulds_1322619.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/894/kakuz-okakura-14816_art_approach-a-great-painting-as-thou-woulds_1322619.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/894/kakuz-okakura-14816_art_approach-a-great-painting-as-thou-woulds_1322619.jpg) > ““Approach a great painting as thou wouldst approach a great prince.”” [Kakuzō Okakura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kakuz-okakura/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Treat a masterpiece with the same reverence and curiosity as you would a noble ruler. **In simple terms:** Approach great art respectfully. Key Takeaway Respect and study great works deeply. Themes art appreciation respect learning Mood contemplative inspired Type philosophical educational When to use this quote - museum visits - art classes - personal reflection Key Concepts aesthetics cultural reverence Questions to Reflect On - How does reverence change your perception of art? - Can you balance respect with personal interpretation? A Different Perspective Not everyone may feel comfortable with such formal reverence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Approach Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approach-great-2319132/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Great Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-painting-610375/) [Great Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-prince-1152211/) [Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting/) [Painting Thou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting-thou-4413053/) [Thou Wouldst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thou-wouldst/) ## Related quotes > [“The world made no sense when a great prince died so a hedge knight might live.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/the-world-made-no-sense-when-a-great-prince-died-so-a-hedge-knight/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [The nearer we approach great men, the clearer we see that they are men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/the-nearer-we-approach-great-men-the-clearer-we-see-that-they-are-men/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [I really prize and love great painting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/i-really-prize-and-love-great-painting/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [If I could only have one more day, I could do a great painting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hokusai/if-i-could-only-have-one-more-day-i-could-do-a-great-painting/) [Hokusai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hokusai/) > [A great painting or symphony or play, doesn't diminish us, but enlarges us, and we, too, want to make our own cry of affirmation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/a-great-painting-or-symphony-or-play-doesn-t-diminish-us-but-enlarges/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [“And if what they say is true--if every great painting is really a self-portrait--what, if anything, is Fabritius saying about himself?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-tartt/and-if-what-they-say-is-true-if-every-great-painting-is-really-a-self/) [Donna Tartt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-tartt/) > [What's great about it is that painting doesn't move. 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Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [I really prize and love great painting. It's so out of date now. It's slightly come back in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/i-really-prize-and-love-great-painting-it-s-so-out-of-date-now-it-s/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [Nothing is as uplifting as standing before a great painting whether it was painted in 1505 or last Tuesday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-saatchi/nothing-is-as-uplifting-as-standing-before-a-great-painting-whether/) [Charles Saatchi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-saatchi/) > [You know, the way art history is taught, often there's nothing that tells you why the painting is great. 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