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John Ruskin Quotes - Page 21

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

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

Land, Taxation, Literature

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.

Men, Names, Numbers

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

God never imposes a duty without giving time to do it.

Giving, Duty, Giving Time

John Ruskin (2015). “Lectures on Architecture and Painting”, p.66, John Ruskin

Whatever merit there is in anything that I have written is simply due to the fact that when I was a child my mother daily read me a part of the Bible and daily made me learn a part of it by heart.

Bible, Mother, Children

The truths of nature are one eternal change, one infinite variety. There is no bush on the face of the globe exactly like another bush; there are no two trees in the forest whose boughs bend into the same network, nor two leaves on the same tree which could not be told one from the other, nor two waves in the sea exactly alike.

Nature, Sea, Two

John Ruskin (1848). “Modern Painters”, p.55

The beginning and almost the end of all good law is that everyone shall work for their bread and receive good bread for their work.

Law, Charity, Bread

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.

Beauty, Character, Thinking

It is not possible to find a landscape, which if painted precisely as it is, will not make an impressive picture. No one knows, till he has tried, what strange beauty and subtle composition is prepared to his hand by Nature.

Hands, Landscape, Strange

John Ruskin (1885). “Modern Painters: pt. 5. Of mountain beauty”

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

Prayer, Mind, Atheism

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

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.

Taken, Trying, Matter

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

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.

Sacrifice, Giving, Religion

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

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.

Christian, Father, House

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

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

Nature, Gambling, Neighbor

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

Cheerfulness is as natural to the heart of a man in strong health as color to his cheek; and wherever there is habitual gloom there must be either bad air, unwholesome food, improperly severe labor, or erring habits of life.

Life, Happiness, Strong

John Ruskin (1868). “pt. V: Of mountain beauty”, p.328

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.

Pain, Effort, Dull

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

The true grotesque being the expression of the repose or play of a serious mind, there is a false grotesque opposed to it, which is the result of the full exertion of a frivolous one.

Expression, Play, Mind

John Ruskin (2015). “The Stones of Venice”, p.244, John Ruskin

It does not matter what the whip is; it is none the less a whip, because you have cut thongs for it out of your own souls.

Cutting, Soul, Doe

John Ruskin (1866). “The Crown of Wild Olive: Three Lectures on Work, Traffic, and War”, p.194

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.

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

There is no law of history any more than of a kaleidoscope.

Law, Historical, Kaleidoscope

John Ruskin (1909). “The Works of John Ruskin”

The world is full of vulgar Purists, who bring discredit on all selection by the silliness of their choice; and this the more, because the very becoming a Purist is commonly indicative of some slight degree of weakness, readiness to be offended, or narrowness of understanding of the ends of things.

Choices, Understanding, Weakness

John Ruskin (1867). “The Stones of Venice”, p.195

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.

Believe, Shadow, Building

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

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.

Pride, Self, People

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

Your honesty is not to be based either on religion or policy. Both your religion and policy must be based on it. Your honesty must be based, as the sun is, in vacant heaven; poised, as the lights in the firmament, which have rule over the day and over the night.

Honesty, Night, Light

'Time and Tide' (1867) letter 8

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.

Fun, World, Care

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

Like other beautiful things in this world, its end (that of a shaft) is to be beautiful; and, in proportion to its beauty, it receives permission to be otherwise useless. We do not blame emeralds and rubies because we cannot make them into heads of hammers.

Beauty, Beautiful, Hammers

John Ruskin (2013). “The Stones of Venice -: The Sea Stories”, p.82, Cosimo, Inc.

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