--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Don't hire a master to paint you a…" description: "\"Don't hire a master to paint you a masterpiece and then assign a roomful of schoolboy artists to look over his shoulder and make suggestions.\" — Robert..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1af/robert-townsend-22339_art_don-t-hire-a-master-to-paint-you-a-maste_2048585.jpg" --- # Don't hire a master to paint you a masterpiece and then… ![“Don't hire a master to paint you a masterpiece and then assign a roomful of schoolboy artists to look over his shoulder and make suggestions.” quote by Robert Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1af/robert-townsend-22339_art_don-t-hire-a-master-to-paint-you-a-maste_2048585.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1af/robert-townsend-22339_art_don-t-hire-a-master-to-paint-you-a-maste_2048585.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1af/robert-townsend-22339_art_don-t-hire-a-master-to-paint-you-a-maste_2048585.jpg) > “Don't hire a master to paint you a masterpiece and then assign a roomful of schoolboy artists to look over his shoulder and make suggestions.” [Robert Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-townsend/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Hiring a master artist then letting many inexperienced people critique undermines expertise and dilutes quality. **In simple terms:** Too many opinions can ruin a masterpiece. Key Takeaway Preserve expert authority. Themes leadership management expertise collaboration quality Mood cautious strategic Type advisory instructional When to use this quote - project management - art commissions - product design - software development - marketing campaigns Key Concepts authority team dynamics creative process Questions to Reflect On - When should you seek diverse feedback? - How to balance expertise with collaboration? A Different Perspective Too many voices can improve outcomes if managed well. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Masterpiece](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/masterpiece/) [Suggestions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suggestions/) ## Related quotes > [The laws of physics is the canvas God laid down on which to paint his masterpiece](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-brown/the-laws-of-physics-is-the-canvas-god-laid-down-on-which-to-paint-his/) [Dan Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-brown/) > [A man can be an artist... in anything, food, whatever. It depends on how good he is at it. Creasey's art is death. He's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-walken/a-man-can-be-an-artist-in-anything-food-whatever-it-depends-on-how/) [Christopher Walken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-walken/) > [You have to be a little scared of what you're doing. Otherwise, you just paint the same masterpiece a little worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-katz/you-have-to-be-a-little-scared-of-what-you-re-doing-otherwise-you/) [Alex Katz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-katz/) > [The laws of physics are the canvas God laid down on which to paint his masterpiece.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-brown/the-laws-of-physics-are-the-canvas-god-laid-down-on-which-to-paint/) [Dan Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-brown/) > [“He had been always about to paint a masterpiece, but had never yet begun it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-henry/he-had-been-always-about-to-paint-a-masterpiece-but-had-never-yet/) [O. Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-henry/) > [Paint a masterpiece daily. Always autograph your work with excellence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-hickman/paint-a-masterpiece-daily-always-autograph-your-work-with-excellence/) Greg Hickman > [Leaders don't rise to the pinnacle of success without developing the right set of attitudes and habits; they make every day a masterpiece.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/leaders-don-t-rise-to-the-pinnacle-of-success-without-developing-the/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Rich men are resolved to be astonished at nothing. When they see a masterpiece, they must needs at one glance recognize some flaw to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/rich-men-are-resolved-to-be-astonished-at-nothing-when-they-see-a/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [I have tried to defend what is most precious to our American society, a society that is now at war against the forces of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demian-bichir/i-have-tried-to-defend-what-is-most-precious-to-our-american-society/) [Demian Bichir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demian-bichir/) > [Know your literary tradition, savor it, steal from it, but when you sit down to write, forget about worshiping greatness and fetishizing masterpieces.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allegra-goodman/know-your-literary-tradition-savor-it-steal-from-it-but-when-you-sit/) [Allegra Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allegra-goodman/) > [Light and subject is inseparable. But when it is well integrated, it becomes the work of a fine masterpiece.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-chong-hasang/light-and-subject-is-inseparable-but-when-it-is-well-integrated-it/) Paul Chong Hasang > [Society takes what it wants. The artist himself does not count, because there is no actual existence for the work of art. The work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/society-takes-what-it-wants-the-artist-himself-does-not-count-because/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [It is easy to take a photograph, but it is harder to make a masterpiece in photography than in any other art medium.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ansel-adams/it-is-easy-to-take-a-photograph-but-it-is-harder-to-make-a/) [Ansel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ansel-adams/) > [Broken by hardships, disappointments and tragedy, people can become discouraged and cynical. But lives can also be mended. Put back together well, they won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-goodier/broken-by-hardships-disappointments-and-tragedy-people-can-become/) [Steve Goodier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-goodier/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) ## More by Robert Townsend > [True leadership must be for the benefit of the followers, not the enrichment of the leaders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-townsend/true-leadership-must-be-for-the-benefit-of-the-followers-not-the/) [Robert Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-townsend/) > [Is what I'm doing or about to do getting us closer to our objective?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-townsend/is-what-i-m-doing-or-about-to-do-getting-us-closer-to-our-objective/) [Robert Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-townsend/) > [If you don't do it excellently, don't do it at all. Because if it's not excellent, it won't be profitable or fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-townsend/if-you-don-t-do-it-excellently-don-t-do-it-at-all-because-if-it-s-not/) [Robert Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-townsend/) > [Make every decision as if you owned the company.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-townsend/make-every-decision-as-if-you-owned-the-company/) [Robert Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-townsend/) > [When you get right down to it, one of the most important tasks of a leader is to eliminate his people's excuse for failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-townsend/when-you-get-right-down-to-it-one-of-the-most-important-tasks-of-a/) [Robert Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-townsend/) > [The world is divided into two classes of people: the few people who make good on their promises (even if they don't promise as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-townsend/the-world-is-divided-into-two-classes-of-people-the-few-people-who/) [Robert Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-townsend/) > [Consultants are people who borrow your watch and tell you what time it is, and then walk off with the watch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-townsend/consultants-are-people-who-borrow-your-watch-and-tell-you-what-time/) [Robert Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-townsend/) > [Managers must have the discipline not to keep pulling up the flowers to see if their roots are healthy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-townsend/managers-must-have-the-discipline-not-to-keep-pulling-up-the-flowers/) [Robert Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-townsend/) > [A good leader needs to have a compass in his head and a bar of steel in his heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-townsend/a-good-leader-needs-to-have-a-compass-in-his-head-and-a-bar-of-steel/) [Robert Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-townsend/) > [If you have to have a policy manual, publish the 'Ten Commandments.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-townsend/if-you-have-to-have-a-policy-manual-publish-the-ten-commandments/) [Robert Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-townsend/) > [It's a poor bureaucrat who can't stall a good idea until even its sponsor is relieved to see it dead and officially buried.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-townsend/it-s-a-poor-bureaucrat-who-can-t-stall-a-good-idea-until-even-its/) [Robert Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-townsend/) > ["Top" management is supposed to be a tree full of owls-hooting when management heads into the wrong part of the forest. I'm still unpersuaded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-townsend/top-management-is-supposed-to-be-a-tree-full-of-owls-hooting-when/) [Robert Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-townsend/) > [One of the most important tasks of a manager is to eliminate his people's excuses for failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-townsend/one-of-the-most-important-tasks-of-a-manager-is-to-eliminate-his/) [Robert Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-townsend/) > [Due to budget cutbacks, the light at the end of the tunnel has been turned off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-townsend/due-to-budget-cutbacks-the-light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel-has-been/) [Robert Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-townsend/) > [If people are coming to work excited. . . if they're making mistakes freely and fearlessly. . . if they're having fun. . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-townsend/if-people-are-coming-to-work-excited-if-they-re-making-mistakes/) [Robert Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-townsend/) [Explore all 27 Robert Townsend quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-townsend/) ## More Art quotes > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/hear-the-sum-of-the-whole-matter-in-the-compass-of-one-brief-word/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) Taf Teh > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [“The only thing--I tell you this straight from the heart--that disgusts me in Salzburg is that one can't have any proper social intercourse with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/the-only-thing-i-tell-you-this-straight-from-the-heart-that-disgusts/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) [Browse all 48,643 Art quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Don't hire a master to paint you a masterpiece and then assign a roomful of schoolboy artists to look over his shoulder and make suggestions.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert Townsend" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-townsend/don-t-hire-a-master-to-paint-you-a-masterpiece-and-then-assign-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Art" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-townsend/don-t-hire-a-master-to-paint-you-a-masterpiece-and-then-assign-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1af/robert-townsend-22339_art_don-t-hire-a-master-to-paint-you-a-maste_2048585.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1af/robert-townsend-22339_art_don-t-hire-a-master-to-paint-you-a-maste_2048585.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1af/robert-townsend-22339_art_don-t-hire-a-master-to-paint-you-a-maste_2048585.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Don't hire a master to paint you a masterpiece and then assign a roomful of schoolboy artists to look over…” — Robert Townsend", "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": "Robert Townsend", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-townsend/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Don't hire a master to paint...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-townsend/don-t-hire-a-master-to-paint-you-a-masterpiece-and-then-assign-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-townsend/don-t-hire-a-master-to-paint-you-a-masterpiece-and-then-assign-a/#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 } } ] } ```