A self-portrait by John Opie (1761-1807). Opie was born in Travellas, Cornwall, and apprenticed in a sawmill. A local doctor, the satirist John Wolcot (‘Peter Pindar’), brought him to London where he was championed by Sir Joshua Reynolds. Opie had to work hard to fit into London’s peculiarly metropolitan ways, and to keep up with fickle fashions and tastes in the commercial art world.
Introduction
Holding a degree or some other officially-recognised paper qualification is not really a guarantee of very much; as Samuel Smiles repeatedly observed, there is no substitute for hands-on experience, the quirks of an interesting personality, and sheer determination.
MEN who are resolved to find a way for themselves, will always find opportunities enough; and if they do not lie ready to their hand, they will make them. It is not those who have enjoyed the advantages of colleges, museums, and public galleries, that have accomplished the most for science and art; nor have the greatest mechanics and inventors been trained in mechanics’ institutes.
Necessity, oftener than facility, has been the mother of invention; and the most prolific school of all has been the school of difficulty. Some of the very best workmen have had the most indifferent tools to work with. But it is not tools that make the workman, but the trained skill and perseverance of the man himself. Indeed it is proverbial that the bad workman never yet had a good tool. Someone asked Opie by what wonderful process he mixed his colours. “I mix them with my brains, sir,” was his reply.*
From ‘Self-Help’ by Samuel Smiles (1812-1904).
John Opie (1761-1807) was a Cornish historical and portrait painter, who painted several members of the court of King George III, and other noted figures of his day. His wife Amelia was a popular novelist and a vocal campaigner against slavery.
Questions for Critics
1. What is the author aiming to achieve in writing this?
2. Note any words, devices or turns of phrase that strike you. How do they help the author communicate his ideas more effectively?
3. What impression does this passage make on you? How might you put that impression into words?
Based on The English Critic (1939) by NL Clay, drawing on The New Criticism: A Lecture Delivered at Columbia University, March 9, 1910, by J. E. Spingarn, Professor of Comparative Literature in Columbia University, USA.
Précis
Samuel Smiles argued that great achievements in the arts and sciences are not the result of institutional education or possessing the best equipment, but of individual determination and genius. He cites the example of the painter John Opie, who replied to a question about his methods for mixing colours that he mixed them with his brains. (56 / 60 words)
Samuel Smiles argued that great achievements in the arts and sciences are not the result of institutional education or possessing the best equipment, but of individual determination and genius. He cites the example of the painter John Opie, who replied to a question about his methods for mixing colours that he mixed them with his brains.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 60 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 50 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: although, because, if, just, may, must, since, whereas.
Archive
Word Games
Jigsaws Based on this passage
Express the ideas below in a single sentence, using different words as much as possible. Do not be satisfied with the first answer you think of; think of several, and choose the best.
Spinners Find in Think and Speak
For each group of words, compose a sentence that uses all three. You can use any form of the word: for example, cat → cats, go → went, or quick → quickly, though neigh → neighbour is stretching it a bit.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Ask. Best. Skill.
2 All. My. Not.
3 Facility. Man. Museum.
Variations: 1. include direct and indirect speech 2. include one or more of these words: although, because, despite, either/or, if, unless, until, when, whether, which, who 3. use negatives (not, isn’t, neither/nor, never, nobody etc.)
Statements, Questions and Commands Find in Think and Speak
Use each word below in a sentence. Try to include at least one statement, one question and one command among your sentences. Note that some verbs make awkward or meaningless words of command, e.g. need, happen.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Mix. 2 Brain. 3 Enjoy. 4 Reply. 5 Work. 6 Process. 7 Train. 8 Man. 9 School.
Variations: 1. use a minimum of seven words for each sentence 2. include negatives, e.g. isn’t, don’t, never 3. use the words ‘must’ to make commands 4. compose a short dialogue containing all three kinds of sentence: one statement, one question and one command
Add Vowels Find in Think and Speak
Make words by adding vowels to each group of consonants below. You may add as many vowels as you like before, between or after the consonants, but you may not add any consonants or change the order of those you have been given. See if you can beat our target of common words.
fls (14+1)
fails. false. feels. files. fleas. flees. flies. floes. flues. foals. foils. fools. fouls. fuels.
folios.
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