Quotes By John Ruskin

Men don't and can't live by exchanging articles, but by producing them. They don't live by trade, but by work. Give up that foolish and vain title of Trades Unions; and take that of laborers Unions.

The highest reward for a person's toil is not what they get for it, but what they become by it.

The child who desires education will be bettered by it; the child who dislikes it disgraced.

Men were not intended to work with the accuracy of tools, to be precise and perfect in all their actions.

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

A great thing can only be done by a great person; and they do it without effort.

To see clearly is poetry, prophecy and religion all in one.

Mountains are the beginning and the end of all natural scenery.

Nothing can be beautiful which is not true.

Art is not a study of positive reality, it is the seeking for ideal truth.

Modern travelling is not travelling at all; it is merely being sent to a place, and very little different from becoming a parcel.

It seems a fantastic paradox, but it is nevertheless a most important truth, that no architecture can be truly noble which is not imperfect.

It is in this power of saying everything, and yet saying nothing too plainly, that the perfection of art consists.

In general, pride is at the bottom of all great mistakes.

A book worth reading is worth buying.

A little thought and a little kindness are often worth more than a great deal of money.

All great and beautiful work has come of first gazing without shrinking into the darkness.

An unimaginative person can neither be reverent or kind.

Whether for life or death, do your own work well.

There are no such things as Flowers there are only gladdened Leaves.

Skill is the unified force of experience, intellect and passion in their operation.

Not only is there but one way of doing things rightly, but there is only one way of seeing them, and that is, seeing the whole of them.

Do not think of your faults, still less of other's faults; look for what is good and strong, and try to imitate it. Your faults will drop off, like dead leaves, when their time comes.

Imaginary evils soon become real one by indulging our reflections on them.

There is no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather.

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.

To give alms is nothing unless you give thought also.

I have not written in vain if I have heretofore done anything towards diminishing the reputation of the Renaissance landscape painting.

Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather.

Civilization is the making of civil persons.