John Ruskin quotes - page 2

What we think or what we know or what we believe is in the end of little consequence. The only thing of consequence is what we do. (John Ruskin)
Of all God's gifts to the sighted man, color is holiest, the most divine, the most solemn.
John Ruskin
Without the perfect sympathy with the animals around them, no gentleman's education, no Christian education, could be of any possible use.
John Ruskin
There is no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather.
John Ruskin
In great countries, children are always trying to remain children, and the parents want to make them into adults. In vile countries, the children are always wanting to be adults and the parents want to keep them children.
John Ruskin
There is no wealth but life.
John Ruskin
Let every dawn be to you as the beginning of life, and every setting sun be to you as its close.
John Ruskin
A book worth reading is worth buying.
John Ruskin
Art is not a study of positive reality, it is the seeking for ideal truth.
John Ruskin
In old times men used their powers of painting to show the objects of faith, in later times they use the objects of faith to show their powers of painting.
John Ruskin
Labour without joy is base. Labour without sorrow is base. Sorrow without labour is base. Joy without labour is base. (John Ruskin)
Modern travelling is not travelling at all; it is merely being sent to a place, and very little different from becoming a parcel.
John Ruskin
The secret of language is the secret of sympathy and its full charm is possible only to the gentle.
John Ruskin
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.
John Ruskin
He that has truth in his heart need never fear the want of persuasion on his tongue.
John Ruskin
When a man is wrapped up in himself, he makes a pretty small package.
John Ruskin
It's unwise to pay too much, but it's worse to pay too little. When you pay too much, you lose a little money - that is all. When you pay too little, you sometimes lose everything, because the thing you bought was incapable of doing the thing it was bought to do. The common law of business balance prohibits paying a little and getting a lot - it can't be done. If you deal with the lowest bidder, it is well to add something for the risk you run, and if you do that you will have enough to pay for something better.
John Ruskin
There are, indeed, two forms of discontent: one laborious, the other indolent and complaining. We respect the man of laborious desire, but let us not suppose that his restlessness is peace, or his ambition meekness. It is because of the special connection of meekness with contentment that it is promised that the meek shall 'inherit the earth.' Neither covetous men, nor the grave, can inherit anything; they can but consume. Only contentment can possess.
John Ruskin
Great nations write their autobiographies in three manuscripts the book of their deeds, the book of their words, and the book of their art. Not one of these books can be understood unless we read the two others; but of the three, the only quite trustworthy one is the last. The acts of a nation may be triumphant by its good fortune; and its words mighty by the genius of a few of its children: but its art, only by the general gifts and common sympathies of the race.
John Ruskin
You talk of the scythe of Time, and the tooth of Time: I tell you, Time is scytheless and toothless; it is we who gnaw like the worm - we who smite like the scythe. It is ourselves who abolish - ourselves who consume: we are the mildew, and the flame.
John Ruskin
He only is advancing in life whose heart is getting softer, whose blood warmer, whose brain quicker, whose spirit is entering into Living peace. And the men who have this life in them are the true lords or kings of the earth - they, and they only. (John Ruskin)
Levi's station in life was the receipt of custom; and Peter's, the shore of Galilee; and Paul's, the antechambers of the High- Priest,- which "station in life" each had to leave, with brief notice.
John Ruskin
Ignorance, which is contented and clumsy, will produce what is imperfect, but not offensive. But ignorance dis contented and dexterous, learning what it cannot understand, and imitating what it cannot enjoy, produces the most loathsome forms of manufacture that can disgrace or mislead humanity.
John Ruskin
I believe the first test of a truly great man is in his humility.
John Ruskin
Mountains are the beginning and the end of all natural scenery.
John Ruskin