John Ruskin Quotes - Page 21

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To watch the corn grow, and the blossoms set; to draw hard breath over ploughshare or spade; to read, to think, to love, to hope, to pray, — these are the things that make men happy.

John Ruskin

Love, Happiness, Men

"Selections from the Writings of John Ruskin".

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God shows us in Himself, strange as it may seem, not only authoritative perfection, but even the perfection of obedience--an obedience to His own laws; and in the cumbrous movement of those unwieldiest of his creatures we are reminded, even in His divine essence, of that attribute of uprightness in the human creature "that sweareth to his own hurt and changeth not.

John Ruskin

God, Hurt, Law

John Ruskin (1849). “The Seven Lamps of Architecture”, p.37

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Which of us?is to do the hard and dirty work for the restand for what pay? Who is to do the pleasant and clean work, and for what pay?

John Ruskin

Dirty, Pay, Clean

'Sesame and Lilies' (1865) lecture 1 'Of Kings' Treasuries' 30, note

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There was a rocky valley between Buxton and Bakewell?divine as the vale of Tempe; you might have seen the gods there morning and eveningApollo and the sweet Muses of the Light? You enterprised a railroad?you blasted its rocks away? And, now, every fool in Buxton can be at Bakewell in half-an-hour, and every fool in Bakewell at Buxton.

John Ruskin

Sweet, Morning, Light

1886-8 Praeterita, vol.3, pt.4,'Joanna's Cave', note. Ruskin 704

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When men are rightly occupied, their amusement grows out of their work, as the colour-petals out of a fruitful flower; when they are faithfully helpful and compassionate, all their emotions become steady, deep, perpetual, and vivifying to the soul as the natural pulse to the body. But now, having no true business, we pour our whole masculine energy into the false business of money-making; and having no true emotion, we must have false emotions dressed up for us to play with, not innocently, as children with dolls, but guiltily and darkly.

John Ruskin

Children, Flower, Men

John Ruskin, John D. Rosenberg (1964). “The Genius of John Ruskin: Selections from His Writings”, p.312, University of Virginia Press

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I know few Christians so convinced of the splendor of the rooms in their Father's house, as to be happier when their friends are called to those mansions... Nor has the Church's ardent "desire to depart, and be with Christ," ever cured it of the singular habit of putting on mourning for every person summoned to such departure.

John Ruskin

Christian, Father, House

John Ruskin (1900). “The crown of wild olive: Munera pulveris. Pre-Raphaelitism. Aratra Pentelici, etc”

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High art consists neither in altering, nor in improving nature; but in seeking throughout nature for 'whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are pure;' in loving these, in displaying to the utmost of the painter's power such loveliness as is in them, and directing the thoughts of others to them by winning art, or gentle emphasis.

John Ruskin

Art, Winning, Lovely

John Ruskin (1859). “Modern Painters: (pt.4) Modern painters of many things”, p.35

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We need examples of people who, leaving Heaven to decide whether they are to rise in the world, decide for themselves that they will be happy in it, and have resolved to seek not greater wealth, but simpler pleasure; not higher fortune, but deeper felicity; making the first of possessions, self-possession; and honouring themselves in the harmless pride and calm pursuits of peace.

John Ruskin

Pride, Self, People

John Ruskin, Christine Roth (2004). “The Two Paths”, p.148, Parlor Press LLC

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The enormous influence of novelty--the way in which it quickens observations, sharpens sensations, and exalts sentiment--is not half enough taken note of by us, and is to me a very sorrowful matter. And yet, if we try to obtain perpetual change, change itself will become monotonous.

John Ruskin

Taken, Trying, Matter

John Ruskin (1850). “Modern Painters: pt. 4. Of many things”, p.299

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A splendour of miscellaneous spirits.

John Ruskin

Venice, Spirit, Splendour

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No picture can be good which deceives by its imitation, for the very reason that nothing can be beautiful which is not true.

John Ruskin

Beautiful, Deceiving, Reason

John Ruskin (1834). “Modern Painters”, p.25

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If you can draw the stone rightly, everything within reach of art is also within yours.

John Ruskin

Art, Stones, Draws

John Ruskin (1859). “The Elements of Drawing: In Three Letters to Beginners”, p.46

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Surely our clergy need not be surprised at the daily increasing distrust in the public mind of the efficacy of prayer.

John Ruskin

Prayer, Mind, Atheism

John Ruskin (1879). “Letters to the Clergy on the Lord's Prayer and the Church”, p.29, Library of Alexandria

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Science deals exclusively with things as they are in themselves; and art exclusively with things as they affect the human sense and human soul.

John Ruskin

Art, Science, Soul

John Ruskin (2013). “The Stones of Venice -: The Fall”, p.36, Cosimo, Inc.

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You were made for enjoyment, and the world was filled with things which you will enjoy, unless you are too proud to be pleased with them, or too grasping to care for what you can not turn to other account than mere delight.

John Ruskin

Fun, World, Care

John Ruskin (1858). “The Stones of Venice”, p.44

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No architecture can be truly noble which is not imperfect.

John Ruskin

Design, Noble, Architecture

John Ruskin (1854). “On the nature of Gothic architecture: and herein of the true functions of the workman in art. Being the greater part of the 6th chapter of the 2nd vol. of 'Stones of Venice'. [48 p.].”, p.13

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And besides; the problem of land, at its worst, is a bye one; distribute the earth as you will, the principal question remains inexorable, Who is to dig it? Which of us, in brief word, is to do the hard and dirty work for the rest, and for what pay?

John Ruskin

Dirty, Land, Bye

John Ruskin (1865). “Sesame and Lilies, etc”, p.69

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I've seen the Rhine with younger wave, O'er every obstacle to rave. I see the Rhine in his native wild Is still a mighty mountain child.

John Ruskin

Children, Mountain, Obstacles

John Ruskin (1903). “The Works of John Ruskin”

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The more readily we admit the possibility of our own cherished convictions being mixed with error, the more vital and helpful whatever is right in them will become; and no error is so conclusively fatal as the idea that God will not allow us to err, though He has allowed all other men to do so.

John Ruskin

Men, Errors, Ideas

John Ruskin (1873). “The Ethics of the Dust: Ten Lectures to Little Housewives on the Elements of Crystallisation”, p.231

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Of human work none but what is bad can be perfect in its own bad way.

John Ruskin

Perfect, Way, Humans

John Ruskin, John D. Rosenberg (1964). “The Genius of John Ruskin: Selections from His Writings”, p.183, University of Virginia Press

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Drunkenness is not only the cause of crime, but it is crime; and if any encourage drunkenness for the sake of the profit derived from the sale of drink, they are guilty of a form of moral assassination as criminal as any that has ever been practiced by the braves of any country or of any age.

John Ruskin

Country, Brave, Age

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It is not the church we want, but the sacrifice; not the emotion of admiration, but the act of adoration; not the gift, but the giving.

John Ruskin

Sacrifice, Giving, Religion

John Ruskin (1855). “¬The Seven Lamps of Architecture”, p.17

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The history of humanity is not the history of its wars, but the history of its households.

John Ruskin

War, History, Humanity

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There is but one question ultimately to be asked respecting every line you draw, Is it right or wrong? If right, it most assuredly is not a "free" line, but an intensely continent, restrained and considered line; and the action of the hand in laying it is just as decisive, and just as "free" as the hand of a first-rate surgeon in a critical incision.

John Ruskin

Hands, Lines, Firsts

John Ruskin (1869). “The Queen of the Air: Being a Study of the Greek Myths of Cloud and Storm”, p.169

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I do not believe that ever any building was truly great, unless it had mighty masses, vigorous and deep, of shadow mingled with its surface.

John Ruskin

Believe, Shadow, Building

John Ruskin (1866). “The seven lamps of architecture”, p.70

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Born: February 8, 1819
Died: January 20, 1900
Occupation: Art critic
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