The only way for us to become great lies in the imitation of the Greeks

The Artist Moved by the Grandeur of Ancient Ruins (1778-79) by Henry Fuseli

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Rhombicuboctahedron by Leonardo da Vinci

The phrase "The only way for us to become great lies in the imitation of the Greeks" by Winckelmann, cited in "Thoughts on the Imitation of Greek Works in Painting and Sculpture" became the slogan of Neoclassicism. It defends imitation over originality.

German original

"Der einzige Weg für uns, groß, ja, wenn es möglich ist, unnachahmlich zu werden, ist die Nachahmung der Alten"

"The only way for us to become great, or if this be possible, inimitable, is to imitate the ancients."

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