John Ruskin Quotes - Page 23

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A gentleman's first characteristic is that fineness of structure in the body which renders it capable of the most delicate sensation; and of structure in the mind which renders it capable of the most delicate sympathies; one may say simply "fineness of nature.

John Ruskin

Mind, Gentleman, Firsts

John Ruskin (1868). “pt. VI: Of leaf beauty. pt. VII: Of cloud beauty. pts. VIII-IX: Of ideas of relation”, p.278

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You cannot get anything out of nature or from God by gambling; only out of your neighbor.

John Ruskin

Nature, Gambling, Neighbor

John Ruskin (1905). “The Complete Works of John Ruskin”

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Large fortunes are all founded either on the occupation of land, or lending or the taxation of labor.

John Ruskin

Land, Taxation, Literature

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Education is the leading human souls to what is best, and making what is best out of them; and these two objects are always attainable together, and by the same means; the training which makes man happiest in themselves also makes them most serviceable to others.

John Ruskin

Education, Teaching, Mean

John Ruskin (2013). “The Stones of Venice -: The Fall”, p.230, Cosimo, Inc.

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However good you may be you have faults; however dull you may be you can find out what some of them are, and however slight they may be you had better make some - not too painful, but patient efforts to get rid of them.

John Ruskin

Pain, Effort, Dull

John Ruskin (2006). “Sesame and Lillies: Three Lectures”, p.9, Cosimo, Inc.

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What is really desired, under the name of riches, is essentially, power over men ... this power ... is in direct proportion to the poverty of the men over whom it is exercised, and in inverse proportion to the number of persons who are as rich as ourselves.

John Ruskin

Men, Names, Numbers

John Ruskin (2015). “Unto This Last”, p.244, John Ruskin

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There is a certain period of the soul-culture when it begins to interfere with some of characters of typical beauty belonging to the bodily frame, the stirring of the intellect wearing down the flesh, and the moral enthusiasm burning its way out to heaven, through the emaciation of the earthen vessel; and there is, in this indication of subduing the mortal by the immortal part, an ideal glory of perhaps a purer and higher range than that of the more perfect material form. We conceive, I think, more nobly of the weak presence of Paul than of, the fair and ruddy countenance of David.

John Ruskin

Beauty, Character, Thinking

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Science is the knowledge of constant things, not merely of passing events, and is properly less the knowledge of general laws than of existing facts.

John Ruskin

Knowledge, Science, Law

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Work first and then rest. Work first, and then gaze, but do not use golden ploughshares, nor bind ledgers in enamel.

John Ruskin

Use, Golden, Firsts

John Ruskin (1849). “The Seven Lamps of Architecture”, p.109

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... the weakest among us has a gift, however seemingly trivial, which is peculiar to him, and which, worthily used, will be a gift also to his race forever.

John Ruskin

Race, Forever, Peculiar

John Ruskin (1848). “Modern Painters”, p.79

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Wise laws and just restraints are to a noble nation not chains, but chains of mail, -- strength and defense, though something of an incumbrance.

John Ruskin

Wise, Law, Liberty

John Ruskin (1900). “Complete Works”

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How false is the conception, how frantic the pursuit, of that treacherous phantom which men call Liberty: most treacherous, indeed, of all phantoms; for the feeblest ray of reason might surely show us, that not only its attainment, but its being, was impossible..... There is no such thing in the universe. There can never be. The stars have it not; the earth has it not; the sea has it not; and we men have the mockery and semblance of it only for our heaviest punishment.

John Ruskin

Stars, Men, Sea

John Ruskin “The stones of Venice (cont'd) Seven lamps of architecture. Lectures on architecture and painting, delivered at Edinburgh in Nov. 1853. An inquiry into some of the conditions at present affecting the study of architecture in our schools”

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Cursing is invoking the assistance of a spirit to help you inflict suffering. Swearing on the other hand, is invoking, only the witness of a spirit to an statement you wish to make.

John Ruskin

Funny, Hands, World Suffering

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Absolute and entire ugliness is rare.

John Ruskin

Absolutes, Ugliness

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You might sooner get lightning out of incense smoke than true action or passion out of your modern English religion.

John Ruskin

Passion, Lightning, Incense

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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Punishment is the last and the least effective instrument in the hands of the legislator for the prevention of crime.

John Ruskin

Hands, Punishment, Prevention

"Notes on the General Principles of Employment for the Destitute and Criminal Classes". Book by John Ruskin, 1868.

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Architecture is the art which so disposes and adorns the edifices raised by man, that the sight of them may contribute to his mental health, power, and pleasure.

John Ruskin

Art, Men, Sight

John Ruskin (1849). “The Seven Lamps of Architecture”, p.7

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And remember, child, that nothing is ever done beautifully, which is done in rivalship; or nobly, which is done in pride.

John Ruskin

Pride, Done, Rivalry

"The Ethics of the Dust: Ten Lectures to Little Housewives on the Elements of Crystallizaion".

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Another of the strange and evil tendencies of the present day is the decoration of the railroad station... There was never more flagrant nor impertinent folly than the smallest portion of ornament in anything connected with the railroads... Railroad architecture has or would have a dignity of its own if it were only left to its work.

John Ruskin

Evil, Ornaments, Railroads

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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

Important, Noble, Literature

John Ruskin, Frederick William Roe (2013). “Selections and Essays”, p.231, Courier Corporation

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Civilization is the making of civil persons.

John Ruskin

Civilization, Literature, Persons

John Ruskin (1867). “Time and Tide, by Weare and Tyne. Twenty-five letters to a working man of Sunderland on the laws of work”, p.197

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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

Beauty, Light, Shadow

John Ruskin (1888). “Modern Painters (Complete)”, p.743, Library of Alexandria

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You cannot have good architecture merely by asking people's advice on occasion. All good architecture is the expression of national life and character; and it is produced by a prevalent and eager national taste, or desire for beauty.

John Ruskin

Character, Expression, People

John Ruskin, John D. Rosenberg (1964). “The Genius of John Ruskin: Selections from His Writings”, p.274, University of Virginia Press

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No changing of place at a hundred miles an hour will make us one whit stronger, or happier, or wiser. There was always more in the world than man could see, walked they ever so slowly; they will see it no better for going fast. The really precious things are thought and sight, not pace. It does a bullet no good to go fast; and a man, if he be truly a man, no harm to go slow; for his glory is not at all in going, but in being.

John Ruskin

Men, Sight, Stronger

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The relative majesty of buildings depends more on the weight and vigour of their masses than any other tribute of their design.

John Ruskin

Design, Weight, Majesty

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Born: February 8, 1819
Died: January 20, 1900
Occupation: Art critic
Cite this Page: Citation

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