William Hogarth Quotes

I have generally found that persons who had studied painting least were the best judges of it.

The serpentine line, or the line of grace, by its waving and winding at the same time different ways, leads the eye in a pleasing manner along the continuity of its variety.

Time is not a great artist but weakens all he touches.

All the world is competent to judge my pictures except those who are of my profession.

I know of no such thing as genius, genius is nothing but labor and diligence.

I turned my thoughts to a still more novel mode... to compose pictures on canvas similar to representations on the stage... my picture is my stage, and men and women my players exhibited in a 'dumb' show.

Simplicity, without variety, is wholly insipid.

Straight lines vary only in length, and therefore are least ornamental.

I think it is owing to the good sense of the English that they have not painted better.

I had rather, if cruelty has been prevented by the four prints [The Four Stages of Cruelty], be maker of them than of the [Raphael] cartoons.