Thebeginnercanunderstandthebeginner，butthecrossbetweenhimandtheproficientperformeristoowideforfertility。Itsavoursofimpatience，andisinflatcontradictiontothefirstprinciplesofbiology。Itdoesabeginnerpositiveharmtolookatthemasterpiecesofthegreatexecutionists，suchasRembrandtorTurner。
Ifoneisclimbingaveryhighmountainwhichwilltaxallone\'sstrength，nothingfatiguessomuchascastingupwardglancestothetop，nothingencouragessomuchascastingdownwardglances。Thetopseemsnevertodrawnearer；thepartsthatwehavepassedretreatrapidly。Letawater-colourstudentgoandseethedrawingbyTurner，inthebasementofourNationalGallery，dated1787。
Thisisthesortofthingforhim，nottocopy，buttolookatforaminuteortwonowandagain。Itwillshowhimnothingaboutpainting，butitmayservetoteachhimnottoovertaxhisstrength，andwillprovetohimthatthegreatestmastersinpainting，asineverythingelse，beginbydoingworkwhichisnowaysuperiortothatoftheirneighbours。Acollectionoftheearliestknownworksofthegreatestmenwouldbemuchmoreusefultothestudentthananynumberoftheirmaturerworks，foritwouldshowhimthatheneednotworryhimselfbecausehisworkdoesnotlookclever，orassillypeoplesay，\"showpower。\"
Thesecretsofsuccessareaffectionforthepursuitchosen，aflatrefusaltobehurriedortopassanythingasunderstoodwhichisnotunderstood，andanobstinacyofcharacterwhichshallmakethestudent\'sfriendsfinditlesstroubletolethimhavehisownwaythantobendhimintotheirs。Ourschoolsandacademiesoruniversitiesarecovertly，butessentially，radicalinstitutionsandabhorrenttothegeniusofConservatism。Theirsinisthetrueradicalsinofbeingintoogreatahurry，andofbelievinginshortcutstoosoon。Butitmustberememberedthatthisproposition，likeeveryother，wantstemperingwithaslightinfusionofitsdirectopposite。
Isaidinanearlypartofthisbookthatthebesttesttoknowwhetherornoonelikesapictureistoaskone\'sselfwhetheronewouldliketolookatitifonewasquitesureonewasalone。Thebesttestforapainterastowhetherhelikespaintinghispictureistoaskhimselfwhetherheshouldliketopaintitifhewasquitesurethatnooneexcepthimself，andthefewofwhomhewasveryfond，wouldeverseeit。Ifhecananswerthisquestionintheaffirmative，heisallright；ifhecannot，heisallwrong。I