--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: An epithet or metaphor drawn from nature…" description: "\"An epithet or metaphor drawn from nature ennobles art; an epithet or metaphor drawn from art degrades nature.\" — Samuel Johnson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb5/samuel-johnson-50_art_an-epithet-or-metaphor-drawn-from-nature_2550901.png" --- # An epithet or metaphor drawn from nature ennobles art; an… ![“An epithet or metaphor drawn from nature ennobles art; an epithet or metaphor drawn from art degrades nature.” quote by Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb5/samuel-johnson-50_art_an-epithet-or-metaphor-drawn-from-nature_2550901.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb5/samuel-johnson-50_art_an-epithet-or-metaphor-drawn-from-nature_2550901.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb5/samuel-johnson-50_art_an-epithet-or-metaphor-drawn-from-nature_2550901.png) > “An epithet or metaphor drawn from nature ennobles art; an epithet or metaphor drawn from art degrades nature.” [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Nature metaphors elevate art, while art metaphors diminish nature's purity. **In simple terms:** Nature metaphors lift art; art metaphors lower nature. Key Takeaway Choose metaphors that honor both realms. Themes art nature metaphor elevating degrading Mood reflective critical Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - writing critique - art criticism - literary analysis Key Concepts Aesthetics symbolism cultural hierarchy Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance natural imagery with artistic integrity? - When does metaphor become pretentious? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on metaphor can obscure direct expression. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Art Degrades](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art-degrades-1519677/) [Art Epithet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art-epithet-1519679/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Degrade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/degrade/) [Degrades Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/degrades-nature-1519678/) [Epithet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/epithet/) [Epithet Metaphor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/epithet-metaphor-1519680/) [Metaphor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/metaphor/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Nature Ennobles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-ennobles-1519681/) ## Related quotes > [In art, all who have done something other than their predecessors have merited the epithet of revolutionary; and it is they alone who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gauguin/in-art-all-who-have-done-something-other-than-their-predecessors-have/) [Paul Gauguin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gauguin/) > [“Some guy hit my fender the other day, and I said unto him, 'Be fruitful, and multiply'. 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When his own desires or standards are not fulfilled in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/the-typical-atheist-rebels-against-god-as-a-teenager-rebels-against/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [Ardent, intelligent, sweet, sensitive, cultivated, erudite. These are the adjectives of praise in an androgynous world. Those who consider them epithets of shame or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-heilbrun/ardent-intelligent-sweet-sensitive-cultivated-erudite-these-are-the/) [Carolyn Heilbrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-heilbrun/) > [Blasphemy is an epithet bestowed by superstition upon common sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/blasphemy-is-an-epithet-bestowed-by-superstition-upon-common-sense/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [For God's sake (I never was more serious) don't make me ridiculous any more by terming me gentle-hearted in print.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/for-god-s-sake-i-never-was-more-serious-don-t-make-me-ridiculous-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [ For other great mathematicians or philosophers, he \[Gauss\] used the epithets magnus, or clarus, or clarissimus; for Newton alone he kept the prefix summus. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-other-great-mathematicians-or-philosophers-he-gauss-used-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [What praise is implied in the simple epithet useful! What reproach in the contrary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/what-praise-is-implied-in-the-simple-epithet-useful-what-reproach-in/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) > [Fascist is not just an epithet. Fascist is a proper noun that means a specific thing. It's a real thing. It's not always referring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/fascist-is-not-just-an-epithet-fascist-is-a-proper-noun-that-means-a/) [Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/) > [In my opinion, using different kinds of epithets and adjectives in connection with the word democracy is a sign of mere hypocrisy, to put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-kasparov/in-my-opinion-using-different-kinds-of-epithets-and-adjectives-in/) [Garry Kasparov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-kasparov/) > [Men's thoughts and opinions are in a great degree vassals of him who invents a new phrase or re-applies an old epithet. The thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/men-s-thoughts-and-opinions-are-in-a-great-degree-vassals-of-him-who/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [Ah fair Zenocrate, divine Zenocrate, Fair is too foul an epithet for thee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-marlowe/ah-fair-zenocrate-divine-zenocrate-fair-is-too-foul-an-epithet-for/) [Christopher Marlowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-marlowe/) > [I earnestly wish to point out in what true dignity and human happiness consists. I wish to persuade women to endeavor to acquire strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wollstonecraft/i-earnestly-wish-to-point-out-in-what-true-dignity-and-human/) [Mary Wollstonecraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wollstonecraft/) ## More by Samuel Johnson > [The size of a man's understanding might always be justly measured by his mirth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-size-of-a-man-s-understanding-might-always-be-justly-measured-by/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Pound St. Paul's Church into atoms, and consider any single atom; it is to be sure, good for nothing; but put all these atoms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/pound-st-paul-s-church-into-atoms-and-consider-any-single-atom-it-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [You can never be wise unless you love reading.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/you-can-never-be-wise-unless-you-love-reading/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [If our aim is to praise, we should forget to criticize; if our aim is to criticize, we should remember to praise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/if-our-aim-is-to-praise-we-should-forget-to-criticize-if-our-aim-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [All theory is against free will; all experience is for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/all-theory-is-against-free-will-all-experience-is-for-it/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Had I learned to fiddle, I should have done nothing else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/had-i-learned-to-fiddle-i-should-have-done-nothing-else/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [It is as foolish to make experiments upon the constancy of a friend, as upon the chastity of a wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/it-is-as-foolish-to-make-experiments-upon-the-constancy-of-a-friend/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Resolve not to be poor: whatever you have, spend less. 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