No lying knight or lying priest ever prospered in any age, but especially not in the dark ones. Men prospered then only in following an openly declared purpose, and preaching candidly beloved and trusted creeds. John Ruskin on age
Nearly all the powerful people of this age are unbelievers, the best of them in doubt and misery, the most in plodding hesitation, doing as well as they can, what practical work lies at hand. John Ruskin on age
He that would be angry and sin not, must not be angry with anything but sin. John Ruskin on anger
We require from buildings two kinds of goodness: first, the doing their practical duty well: then that they be graceful and pleasing in doing it. John Ruskin on architecture
It is impossible, as impossible as to raise the dead, to restore anything that has ever been great or beautiful in architecture. That which I have insisted upon as the life of the whole, that spirit which is given only by the hand and eye of the workman, can never be recalled. John Ruskin on architecture
No architecture is so haughty as that which is simple. John Ruskin on architecture
It seems a fantastic paradox, but it is nevertheless a most important truth, that no architecture can be truly noble which is not imperfect. John Ruskin on architecture
Art is not a study of positive reality, it is the seeking for ideal truth. John Ruskin on art
Fine art is that in which the hand, the head, and the heart of man go together. John Ruskin on art
All great art is the work of the whole living creature, body and soul, and chiefly of the soul. John Ruskin on art
Great nations write their autobiographies in three manuscripts - the book of their deeds, the book of their words and the book of their art. John Ruskin on art
All that we call ideal in Greek or any other art, because to us it is false and visionary, was, to the makers of it, true and existent. John Ruskin on art
No art can be noble which is incapable of expressing thought, and no art is capable of expressing thought which does not change. John Ruskin on art
It is in this power of saying everything, and yet saying nothing too plainly, that the perfection of art consists. John Ruskin on art
The art which we may call generally art of the wayside, as opposed to that which is the business of men's lives, is, in the best sense of the word, Grotesque. John Ruskin on art
Endurance is nobler than strength, and patience than beauty. John Ruskin on beauty
Beauty deprived of its proper foils and adjuncts ceases to be enjoyed as beauty, just as light deprived of all shadows ceases to be enjoyed as light. John Ruskin on beauty
The principle of all successful effort is to try to do not what is absolutely the best, but what is easily within our power, and suited for our temperament and condition. John Ruskin on best
Education is the leading of human souls to what is best, and making what is best out of them. John Ruskin on best
How long most people would look at the best book before they would give the price of a large turbot for it? John Ruskin on best