--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If it's a likeness, alone, it's not a…" description: "\"If it's a likeness, alone, it's not a success. If, through my portraits, you can come to know the subjects more meaningfully, if it synthesizes your fe..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/310/yousuf-karsh-29647_beautiful_if-it-s-a-likeness-alone-it-s-not-a-succ_2035516.jpg" --- # If it's a likeness, alone, it's not a success. If, through… ![“If it's a likeness, alone, it's not a success. If, through my portraits, you can come to know the subjects more meaningfully, if it synthesizes your feelings toward someone whose work has imprinted itself on your mind--if you see a photograph and say, 'Yes, this is the person,' with a little new…” quote by Yousuf Karsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/310/yousuf-karsh-29647_beautiful_if-it-s-a-likeness-alone-it-s-not-a-succ_2035516.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/310/yousuf-karsh-29647_beautiful_if-it-s-a-likeness-alone-it-s-not-a-succ_2035516.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/310/yousuf-karsh-29647_beautiful_if-it-s-a-likeness-alone-it-s-not-a-succ_2035516.jpg) > “If it's a likeness, alone, it's not a success. If, through my portraits, you can come to know the subjects more meaningfully, if it synthesizes your feelings toward someone whose work has imprinted itself on your mind--if you see a photograph and say, 'Yes, this is the person,' with a little new insight--that is a beautiful experience.” [Yousuf Karsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yousuf-karsh/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A successful portrait reveals deeper insight into its subject, allowing viewers to recognize and connect with the person in a meaningful way. **In simple terms:** Portraits should reveal deeper insight. Key Takeaway Seek to capture the subject’s essence. Themes art portraiture perception empathy Mood introspective appreciative Type artistic inspirational When to use this quote - photography - gallery displays - personal reflection Key Concepts visual storytelling psychology human connection Questions to Reflect On - How does a portrait change your view of someone? - What elements make a portrait feel authentic? A Different Perspective May not work for all subjects. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beautiful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beautiful/) [Beautiful experiences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beautiful-experiences/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Insight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insight/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Likeness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/likeness/) [Likeness Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/likeness-success-3761412/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting/) [Persons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persons/) [Photograph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photograph/) [Photographer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photographer/) [Photography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photography/) [Portraits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/portraits/) [Portraits Come](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/portraits-come-3761413/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Subjects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subjects/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Success Portraits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success-portraits-3761414/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [What we know about Cleopatra's looks is based purely on her coin portraits. 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Is it not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/i-see-god-in-every-human-being-when-i-wash-the-leper-s-wounds-i-feel/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [Giving love is the real beautiful experience, because then you are an emperor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/giving-love-is-the-real-beautiful-experience-because-then-you-are-an/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [I have gotten some of the most beautiful experiences that a person can possibly ask for so I'm not at all complaining.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-carano/i-have-gotten-some-of-the-most-beautiful-experiences-that-a-person/) [Gina Carano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-carano/) > [It was a thunderingly beautiful experience-voluptuous, sexual, dangerous, and expensive as hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/it-was-a-thunderingly-beautiful-experience-voluptuous-sexual/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [Why isn't there a book about someone losing their faith and it being a beautiful experience?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-sweeney/why-isn-t-there-a-book-about-someone-losing-their-faith-and-it-being/) [Julia Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-sweeney/) > [We're still growing into that place of higher consciousness; we are becoming a global conscience. The idea is to unravel the onion and let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-anderson/we-re-still-growing-into-that-place-of-higher-consciousness-we-are/) [Jon Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-anderson/) > [The most beautiful experience in the world is the experience of the mysterious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-most-beautiful-experience-in-the-world-is-the-experience-of-the/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Einstein said that the most beautiful experience we can have is the mysterious. So why do so many of us try to explain the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-bernstein/einstein-said-that-the-most-beautiful-experience-we-can-have-is-the/) [Leonard Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-bernstein/) > [ \[Mystery\] is the fundamental emotion that stands at the cradle of true art and true science. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/mystery-is-the-fundamental-emotion-that-stands-at-the-cradle-of-true/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [In relations with people, as in art, if you always stick to style, manners, and what will work, and you're never caught off guard,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-frankenthaler/in-relations-with-people-as-in-art-if-you-always-stick-to-style/) [Helen Frankenthaler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-frankenthaler/) ## More by Yousuf Karsh > [My personal interest in ordinary people is unlimited, but I am fascinated by the challenge of portraying true greatness adequately with my camera.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yousuf-karsh/my-personal-interest-in-ordinary-people-is-unlimited-but-i-am/) [Yousuf Karsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yousuf-karsh/) > [Within every man and woman a secret is hidden, and as a photographer it is my task to reveal it if I can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yousuf-karsh/within-every-man-and-woman-a-secret-is-hidden-and-as-a-photographer/) [Yousuf Karsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yousuf-karsh/) > [My chief joy is to photograph the great in heart, in mind, and in spirit, whether they be famous or humble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yousuf-karsh/my-chief-joy-is-to-photograph-the-great-in-heart-in-mind-and-in/) [Yousuf Karsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yousuf-karsh/) > [Character, like a photograph, develops in darkness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yousuf-karsh/character-like-a-photograph-develops-in-darkness/) [Yousuf Karsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yousuf-karsh/) > [“Character, like film, develops in darkness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yousuf-karsh/character-like-film-develops-in-darkness/) [Yousuf Karsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yousuf-karsh/) > [It should be the aim of every photographer to make a single exposure that shows everything about the subject. I have been told that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yousuf-karsh/it-should-be-the-aim-of-every-photographer-to-make-a-single-exposure/) [Yousuf Karsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yousuf-karsh/) > [I've also seen that great men are often lonely. This is understandable, because they have built such high standards for themselves that they often…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yousuf-karsh/i-ve-also-seen-that-great-men-are-often-lonely-this-is-understandable/) [Yousuf Karsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yousuf-karsh/) > [The trouble with photographing beautiful women is that you never get into the dark room until after they've gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yousuf-karsh/the-trouble-with-photographing-beautiful-women-is-that-you-never-get/) [Yousuf Karsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yousuf-karsh/) > [Look and think before opening the shutter. The heart and mind are the true lens of the camera.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yousuf-karsh/look-and-think-before-opening-the-shutter-the-heart-and-mind-are-the/) [Yousuf Karsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yousuf-karsh/) > [If there is a single quality that is shared by all great men, it is vanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yousuf-karsh/if-there-is-a-single-quality-that-is-shared-by-all-great-men-it-is/) [Yousuf Karsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yousuf-karsh/) > [I have found that great people do have in common. . .an immense belief in themselves and in their mission. They also have gerat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yousuf-karsh/i-have-found-that-great-people-do-have-in-common-an-immense-belief-in/) [Yousuf Karsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yousuf-karsh/) > [I try to photograph people's spirits and thoughts. As to the soul-taking by the photographer, I don't feel I take away, but rather that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yousuf-karsh/i-try-to-photograph-people-s-spirits-and-thoughts-as-to-the-soul/) [Yousuf Karsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yousuf-karsh/) > [Within every man and woman a secret is hidden, and as a photographer it is my task to reveal it if I can. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yousuf-karsh/within-every-man-and-woman-a-secret-is-hidden-and-as-a-photographer-2/) [Yousuf Karsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yousuf-karsh/) > [There is a brief moment when all there is in a man's mind and soul and spirit is reflected through his eyes, his hands,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yousuf-karsh/there-is-a-brief-moment-when-all-there-is-in-a-man-s-mind-and-soul/) [Yousuf Karsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yousuf-karsh/) > [The art is the challenge which you must meet every day: the technique you should learn to control with time. The science and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yousuf-karsh/the-art-is-the-challenge-which-you-must-meet-every-day-the-technique/) [Yousuf Karsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yousuf-karsh/) [Explore all 18 Yousuf Karsh quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yousuf-karsh/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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. 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