A small painting of golden wheat leaning against a wooden stool beside a brush in a glass jar.

Original artwork, not a still

The Campaign

Joseph Addison

And those that paint them truest praise them most.

Behind the line

What it means

Our interpretation.

The line presents truthful portrayal as the highest form of praise. Its point is that the subjects deserve admiration when shown as they really are, so an accurate depiction honours them more effectively than distortion, exaggeration or flattering invention could.

Context reviewed

Share this quote