--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is justly considered as the greatest…" description: "\"It is justly considered as the greatest excellency of art to imitate nature; but it is necessary to distinguish those parts of nature which are most pr..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39a/samuel-johnson-50_accounts_it-is-justly-considered-as-the-greatest_820308.png" --- # It is justly considered as the greatest excellency of art… ![“It is justly considered as the greatest excellency of art to imitate nature; but it is necessary to distinguish those parts of nature which are most proper for imitation: greater care is still required in representing life, which is so often discoloured by passion or deformed by wickedness. If the…” quote by Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39a/samuel-johnson-50_accounts_it-is-justly-considered-as-the-greatest_820308.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39a/samuel-johnson-50_accounts_it-is-justly-considered-as-the-greatest_820308.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39a/samuel-johnson-50_accounts_it-is-justly-considered-as-the-greatest_820308.png) > “It is justly considered as the greatest excellency of art to imitate nature; but it is necessary to distinguish those parts of nature which are most proper for imitation: greater care is still required in representing life, which is so often discoloured by passion or deformed by wickedness. If the world be promiscuously described, I cannot see of what use it can be to read the account; or why it may not be as safe to turn the eye immediately upon mankind, as upon a mirror which shows all that presents itself without discrimination.” [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. Art should imitate nature, but only its best parts; portraying life requires care to avoid exaggerating flaws. **In simple terms:** Art imitates nature, but only its good parts. Key Takeaway Focus on noble aspects when representing reality. Themes art nature representation ethics Mood thoughtful critical Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - painting - literature - theatre - education - media criticism Key Concepts aesthetics moral philosophy Questions to Reflect On - What aspects of life should be highlighted? - How do we balance truth and beauty? A Different Perspective Idealizing all humanity can mislead and obscure truth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/) [Discrimination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discrimination/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Mankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mankind/) [Mirrors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mirrors/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) [Passion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passion/) [Wickedness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wickedness/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [The function of Art is to imitate Nature in her manner of operation. Our understanding of her manner of operation&Rdquo; changes according to advances…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cage/the-function-of-art-is-to-imitate-nature-in-her-manner-of-operation/) [John Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cage/) > [Admiration of great men, living or dead, naturally evokes imitation of them in a greater or less degree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/admiration-of-great-men-living-or-dead-naturally-evokes-imitation-of/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [Does art imitate life, or does life imitate TV?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/does-art-imitate-life-or-does-life-imitate-tv/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [The primary function of art is not to imitate or represent or interpret, but to create a living thing; it is the reduction of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawren-harris/the-primary-function-of-art-is-not-to-imitate-or-represent-or/) [Lawren Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawren-harris/) > [Not only does art imitate life but life imitates art. 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Ortiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-g-ortiz/) > [Art may imitate wild nature; less often does it dare to place itself in the midst of it, and when it does, it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hart/art-may-imitate-wild-nature-less-often-does-it-dare-to-place-itself/) [John Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hart/) > [So true it is, that nature has caprices which art cannot imitate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/so-true-it-is-that-nature-has-caprices-which-art-cannot-imitate/) [Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/) > [Works of art imitate and provoke other works of art, the process is the source of art itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-hirsch/works-of-art-imitate-and-provoke-other-works-of-art-the-process-is/) [Edward Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-hirsch/) > [Art may imitate life, but life imitates TV.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/art-may-imitate-life-but-life-imitates-tv/) [Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/) > [We must be vigilant in sharing our stories and our truths as queer parents of color at every chance we get if we hope…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karamo-brown/we-must-be-vigilant-in-sharing-our-stories-and-our-truths-as-queer/) [Karamo Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karamo-brown/) > [The true end of Art is not to imitate a fixed material condition, but to represent a living motion,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-inness/the-true-end-of-art-is-not-to-imitate-a-fixed-material-condition-but/) [George Inness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-inness/) > [Art does not imitate nature, but founds itself on the study of nature, takes from nature the selections which best accord with its own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/art-does-not-imitate-nature-but-founds-itself-on-the-study-of-nature/) [Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/) > [Color was not given to us in order that we should imitate Nature. 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