--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We must not be content to memorize the…" description: "\"We must not be content to memorize the beautiful formulas of our illustrious predecessors. Let us go out and study beautiful nature.\" — Paul Cezanne" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e05/paul-cezanne-2525_beautiful_we-must-not-be-content-to-memorize-the-b_3027210.jpg" --- # We must not be content to memorize the beautiful formulas… ![“We must not be content to memorize the beautiful formulas of our illustrious predecessors. Let us go out and study beautiful nature.” quote by Paul Cezanne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e05/paul-cezanne-2525_beautiful_we-must-not-be-content-to-memorize-the-b_3027210.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e05/paul-cezanne-2525_beautiful_we-must-not-be-content-to-memorize-the-b_3027210.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e05/paul-cezanne-2525_beautiful_we-must-not-be-content-to-memorize-the-b_3027210.jpg) > “We must not be content to memorize the beautiful formulas of our illustrious predecessors. Let us go out and study beautiful nature.” [Paul Cezanne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-cezanne/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Encourages moving beyond rote learning of past masters to directly observe and learn from nature’s inherent beauty. **In simple terms:** Learn from nature, not just past masters. Key Takeaway Study nature directly. Themes learning creativity observation Mood inspirational thoughtful Type philosophical creative When to use this quote - art education - scientific study - design inspiration Key Concepts Empiricism originality Questions to Reflect On - How can you incorporate natural observation into your work? - What limits arise from over‑reliance on tradition? A Different Perspective Relying solely on past work can stifle innovation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beautiful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beautiful/) [Beautiful nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beautiful-nature/) [Beauty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beauty/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) ## Related quotes > [The Louvre is the book in which we learn to read. 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Be contented with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-baden-powell/nature-study-will-show-you-how-full-of-beautiful-and-wonderful-things/) [Robert Baden-Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-baden-powell/) > [If a man's wit be wandering, let him study the mathematics; for in demonstrations, if his wit be called away never so little, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/if-a-man-s-wit-be-wandering-let-him-study-the-mathematics-for-in/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [“Let us farm when it is clear and let us study when it rains.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-us-farm-when-it-is-clear-and-let-us-study-when-it-rains/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Let us study things that are no more. It is necessary to understand them, if only to avoid them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/let-us-study-things-that-are-no-more-it-is-necessary-to-understand/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [“Let's not argue about it, let's study it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard/let-s-not-argue-about-it-let-s-study-it/) Leonard > [If a man's wit be wandering, let him study the mathematics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/if-a-man-s-wit-be-wandering-let-him-study-the-mathematics/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [A remarkable documentary that's also one of the most beautiful nature films I've seen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/a-remarkable-documentary-that-s-also-one-of-the-most-beautiful-nature/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [We can create a more beautiful nature by not touching it and by leaving it alone!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/we-can-create-a-more-beautiful-nature-by-not-touching-it-and-by/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [I am the lover of uncontained and immortal beauty. In the wilderness, I find something more dear and connate than in streets or villages.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/i-am-the-lover-of-uncontained-and-immortal-beauty-in-the-wilderness-i/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If one truly loves nature one finds beauty everywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-van-gogh/if-one-truly-loves-nature-one-finds-beauty-everywhere/) [Vincent Van Gogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-van-gogh/) > [I love all of the ecosystems - mountains, deserts, rainforests. They're beautiful, and nature has so many different flavors to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louie-schwartzberg/i-love-all-of-the-ecosystems-mountains-deserts-rainforests-they-re/) [Louie Schwartzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louie-schwartzberg/) > [Honestly, I'm not a big person in terms of religion, but I really believe in nature. I feel like anytime you see anything beautiful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-rue/honestly-i-m-not-a-big-person-in-terms-of-religion-but-i-really/) [Sara Rue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-rue/) > [I think I am in my last days, but it doesn't really matter because I have had such a beautiful life. I have lived…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-herz-sommer/i-think-i-am-in-my-last-days-but-it-doesn-t-really-matter-because-i/) [Alice Herz-Sommer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-herz-sommer/) > [While cares will drop off like autumn leaves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/while-cares-will-drop-off-like-autumn-leaves/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) ## More by Paul Cezanne > [An art which isn't based on feeling isn't an art at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-cezanne/an-art-which-isn-t-based-on-feeling-isn-t-an-art-at-all/) [Paul Cezanne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-cezanne/) > [I am still searching for the expression of those confused sensations that we bring with us at birth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-cezanne/i-am-still-searching-for-the-expression-of-those-confused-sensations/) [Paul Cezanne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-cezanne/) > [You say a new era in art is preparing; you sensed it coming; continue your studies without weakening. God will do the rest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-cezanne/you-say-a-new-era-in-art-is-preparing-you-sensed-it-coming-continue/) [Paul Cezanne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-cezanne/) > [A thousand painters ought to be killed yearly. Say what you like: I'm every inch a painter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-cezanne/a-thousand-painters-ought-to-be-killed-yearly-say-what-you-like-i-m/) [Paul Cezanne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-cezanne/) > [Taste is the best judge. It is rare. Art only addresses itself to an excessively small number of individuals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-cezanne/taste-is-the-best-judge-it-is-rare-art-only-addresses-itself-to-an/) [Paul Cezanne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-cezanne/) > [You have to hurry up if you want to see something, everything disappears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-cezanne/you-have-to-hurry-up-if-you-want-to-see-something-everything/) [Paul Cezanne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-cezanne/) > [Here on the edge of the river, the motifs are very plentiful, the same subject seen from a different angle gives a subject for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-cezanne/here-on-the-edge-of-the-river-the-motifs-are-very-plentiful-the-same/) [Paul Cezanne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-cezanne/) > [With an apple I will astonish Paris.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-cezanne/with-an-apple-i-will-astonish-paris/) [Paul Cezanne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-cezanne/) > [A work of art which did not begin in emotion is not art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-cezanne/a-work-of-art-which-did-not-begin-in-emotion-is-not-art/) [Paul Cezanne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-cezanne/) > [All the theories mess you up inside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-cezanne/all-the-theories-mess-you-up-inside/) [Paul Cezanne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-cezanne/) > [People think how a sugar basin has no physiognomy, no soul. But it changes every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-cezanne/people-think-how-a-sugar-basin-has-no-physiognomy-no-soul-but-it/) [Paul Cezanne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-cezanne/) > [The day is coming when a single carrot, freshly observed, will set off a revolution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-cezanne/the-day-is-coming-when-a-single-carrot-freshly-observed-will-set-off/) [Paul Cezanne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-cezanne/) > [Shut your eyes, wait, think of nothing. Now, open them ... one sees nothing but a great coloured undulation. What then? An irradiation and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-cezanne/shut-your-eyes-wait-think-of-nothing-now-open-them-one-sees-nothing/) [Paul Cezanne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-cezanne/) > [Painting is founded on the heart controlled by the head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-cezanne/painting-is-founded-on-the-heart-controlled-by-the-head/) [Paul Cezanne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-cezanne/) > [If I were called upon to define briefly the word Art, I should call it the reproduction of what the senses preceive in nature,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-cezanne/if-i-were-called-upon-to-define-briefly-the-word-art-i-should-call-it/) [Paul Cezanne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-cezanne/) [Explore all 161 Paul Cezanne quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-cezanne/) ## More Beautiful quotes > [I received a beautiful welcome to the world of music. I want to give something back to the younger generation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luciano-pavarotti/i-received-a-beautiful-welcome-to-the-world-of-music-i-want-to-give/) [Luciano Pavarotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luciano-pavarotti/) > [Being beautiful comes naturally!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-beautiful-comes-naturally/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My school was one of the most beautiful places a child can grow up in. You are surrounded by nature - cats, dogs, birds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amala-akkineni/my-school-was-one-of-the-most-beautiful-places-a-child-can-grow-up-in/) [Amala Akkineni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amala-akkineni/) > [“do not misunderstand person by beauty You really do not know its real or Mask on dirty thoughts”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-zaki-ansari/do-not-misunderstand-person-by-beauty-you-really-do-not-know-its-real/) [Mohammed Zaki Ansari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-zaki-ansari/) > [In the hearing world, I'm constantly having to lip-read and trying to understand what's going on. Sign language is so beautiful. It gives you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-ayling-ellis/in-the-hearing-world-i-m-constantly-having-to-lip-read-and-trying-to/) [Rose Ayling-Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-ayling-ellis/) > [The more perfect the sight is the more delightful the beautiful object. The more perfect the appetite, the sweeter the food. The more musical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/the-more-perfect-the-sight-is-the-more-delightful-the-beautiful/) [Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/) > [Call her beautiful a million times and she won't believe you. Call her ugly once, and she will never forget it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tumblr/call-her-beautiful-a-million-times-and-she-won-t-believe-you-call-her/) Tumblr > [You will never know just how beautiful you are to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-will-never-know-just-how-beautiful-you-are-to-me/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You felt a deep sorrow, the kind of melancholy you feel when you're in a beautiful place and the sun is going down](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thrity-umrigar/you-felt-a-deep-sorrow-the-kind-of-melancholy-you-feel-when-you-re-in/) [Thrity Umrigar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thrity-umrigar/) > [ Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit. My three \[great teachers\] did not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/teaching-might-even-be-the-greatest-of-the-arts-since-the-medium-is/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [You're beautiful, cute, pretty, gorgeous, and fuck.. I ran out of words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raghib-clitso/you-re-beautiful-cute-pretty-gorgeous-and-fuck-i-ran-out-of-words/) [Raghib Clitso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raghib-clitso/) > [Growing up in Iceland, it was very beautiful, very safe, but quite isolated. There was something about jazz music that had a way of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laufey/growing-up-in-iceland-it-was-very-beautiful-very-safe-but-quite/) [Laufey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laufey/) > [How could you feel worthless when God has honoured you by creating you and choosing you to be with Him, in this life and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmin-mogahed/how-could-you-feel-worthless-when-god-has-honoured-you-by-creating/) [Yasmin Mogahed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmin-mogahed/) > [Sometimes it's about less is more. It's about the seed. Thinking about this gigantic tree that you think is so beautiful but it started…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-durst/sometimes-it-s-about-less-is-more-it-s-about-the-seed-thinking-about/) [Fred Durst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-durst/) > [God's Word does provide life lessons to teach us how to live. And it gives us beautiful poetry that gives voice to our human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-rothschild/god-s-word-does-provide-life-lessons-to-teach-us-how-to-live-and-it/) [Jennifer Rothschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-rothschild/) [Browse all 17,976 Beautiful quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beautiful/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We must not be content to memorize the beautiful formulas of our illustrious predecessors. 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