Who said “Life is painting a picture, not doing a sum.”?

Verified

Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr.. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceAddress to the Harvard Alumni Association to the Class of '61, in Speeches (1913), p. 96.

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Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: Address to the Harvard Alumni Association to the Class of '61, in Speeches (1913), p. 96..

APA

Holmes, O. W. J. (n.d.). Life is painting a picture, not doing a sum. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/26716-life-is-painting-a-picture-not-doing-a/

MLA

Holmes, Oliver Wendell Jr. “Life is painting a picture, not doing a sum.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/26716-life-is-painting-a-picture-not-doing-a/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Holmes, Oliver Wendell Jr. “Life is painting a picture, not doing a sum.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/26716-life-is-painting-a-picture-not-doing-a/.