David Roberts Quotes

Powerful David Roberts for Daily Growth

About David Roberts

David Roberts (1836-1904), a prominent Scottish landscape painter and etcher, was born on September 6, 1836, in Glasgow, Scotland. His early interest in art was nurtured by his father, who was an engraver and teacher of drawing. At the age of 12, Roberts began formal art studies at the Glasgow School of Art. He later moved to London where he honed his skills as a watercolorist and etcher under the tutelage of David Cox and George Chinnery. Roberts' artistic career took flight in 1859 when he was commissioned by the Scottish publisher, Walter Blackie, to produce 200 watercolors for a series on Scotland's landscapes. This monumental task provided him with ample opportunities to explore and capture the breathtaking beauty of his native country. In 1864, Roberts embarked on an expedition to India, funded by Blackie, which resulted in the creation of over 200 watercolors that showcased the rich cultural heritage and dramatic landscapes of the subcontinent. These works were later published as 'India: Its Scenery, Architecture, and Art'. Upon returning to Scotland, Roberts continued to produce a prolific body of work, including his famous series on Iceland (1864-1872) and Norway (1873-1875). His innovative use of watercolor and etching techniques, combined with his deep understanding of light and atmosphere, earned him critical acclaim and established him as one of the leading landscape artists of the Victorian era. David Roberts' influence extends beyond his time, inspiring future generations of landscape painters such as J.M.W Turner and John Constable. His work remains a testament to the power of art in capturing the essence of place and preserving cultural heritage for posterity.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"We have it in our power to begin the world over again."

This quote by David Roberts implies that we, as a society, possess the ability to fundamentally change and improve the state of the world. It suggests that we have the potential to correct past mistakes, address systemic issues, and establish a better future for all if we are willing to act upon this power responsibly and collectively. Essentially, it encourages hope and action towards creating positive societal transformation.

"The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance - it is the illusion of knowledge."

The quote emphasizes that overconfidence in one's existing knowledge can often hinder progress and exploration, as it prevents us from questioning our assumptions and seeking out new information or perspectives. In other words, assuming we already know everything can prevent us from learning something new or making a discovery. This underscores the importance of humility, curiosity, and open-mindedness in the pursuit of knowledge and progress.

"The earth has a skin and that skin has its diseases."

The quote "The Earth has a skin, and that skin has its diseases" by David Roberts emphasizes the idea that the Earth, like a living organism, has a protective layer (its 'skin') which can be affected by various maladies or environmental issues. These diseases symbolize the environmental degradation, pollution, deforestation, and climate change caused by human activities. The quote serves as a reminder of our responsibility to care for and heal this skin of our planet.

"The time for action is now. We simply do not have the luxury of delay."

This quote emphasizes the urgency and importance of immediate action, suggesting that the matter at hand (in this case, likely climate change or environmental issues) cannot wait for further deliberation or procrastination. The phrase "luxury of delay" implies that time is a precious resource and any unnecessary postponement could lead to irreversible consequences. In other words, the speaker urges us to act swiftly in order to address pressing issues effectively.

"In nature, nothing is perfect and everything is perfect. Trees can becontorted, bent in weird ways, and they're still beautiful."

This quote emphasizes the inherent beauty and perfection found in nature, even in its imperfections. It suggests that the flaws, quirks, or irregularities that we observe in natural elements like trees are not defects but rather unique and captivating aspects that contribute to their overall charm and aesthetic value. The quote encourages us to appreciate the diverse forms of nature and recognize the harmony and perfection that exist within its seemingly imperfect manifestations.

When you sling a saddle atop a llama's back, just after he's rolled in the dirt to scratch the unscratchable tickle of having lugged an ungrateful hiker's 90 pounds of impedimenta another eight miles along the trail, you're struck by how matted, coarse, and snarly the wool seems. But that's why it makes for versatile outdoor wear.

- David Roberts

Another, Wear, Wool, Saddle

As scientific research demonstrates, llama wool's very coarseness and its range of fibers from fine to thick mean that it can be woven into clothing that's superior to down, fleece, sheep wool, and alpaca wool in criteria ranging from warmth to water resistance to usable life.

- David Roberts

Fibers, Very, Wool, Usable

During the Spanish conquest of Mesoamerica in the 16th century, the Catholic Church's Friar Diego de Landa supervised the burning of hundreds of Maya codices - fig-bark books rich in mythological and astronomical information. Only four Maya codices are known to have survived.

- David Roberts

Mythological, Astronomical, Diego

The earliest dated monument yet discovered in Tikal and all of the Maya lowlands, Stela 29, has a Long Count date of 8.12.14.13.15, which translates to A.D. 292.

- David Roberts

Date, Discovered, Which, Monument

I knew that alpaca wool, with its cashmere-soft weave, had been transformed into cuddly knick-knacks ranging from pillows to teddy bears. But through selective breeding over the past 6,000 years, alpacas have so diverged from their llama cousins as to become quite different animals.

- David Roberts

Through, Been, Wool, Transformed

It's not at all naturally human to see something like the Grand Canyon as beautiful.

- David Roberts

Beautiful, See, Naturally, Canyon

I went to the Grand Canyon with my family when I was about 8 years old, and I had a very blah experience. I think the scale of it is too huge - you don't appreciate it.

- David Roberts

Think, I Think, Very, Grand Canyon

The United States came within a whisker of invading Utah in 1858 and starting a civil war three years before the Civil War. Because the conflict ended up fizzling out, it's not the most dramatic story about the West.

- David Roberts

United, Before, About, Utah

I was doing research on the Mormon handcart tragedy when I came across information about Brigham Young sending out missions to the Indians in 1855.

- David Roberts

Doing, Young, About, Mormon

Perhaps the greatest Maya mystery of all is the cause of the civilization's abrupt decline. The last dated stela erected at Tikal was put up in A.D. 869; the last anywhere in the Maya world, in 909.

- David Roberts

Civilization, Last, Abrupt, Dated

Nobody realizes that Mormons were the first Americans to settle Las Vegas.

- David Roberts

Vegas, Settle, Were, Las Vegas

Though Tikal may have been settled by at least 600 B.C., most of the city's edifices were built during what is called the Classic period of Maya history, from A.D. 250 to 900.

- David Roberts

Been, Period, Though, Classic

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