Quotes By John Ruskin

The greatest thing a human soul ever does in this world... to see clearly is poetry, prophecy and religion all in one.

That country is the richest which nourishes the greatest number of noble and happy human beings.

No person who is well bred, kind and modest is ever offensively plain; all real deformity means want for manners or of heart.

It is written on the arched sky; it looks out from every star. It is the poetry of Nature; it is that which uplifts the spirit within us.

Nothing is ever done beautifully which is done in rivalship: or nobly, which is done in pride.

Let us reform our schools, and we shall find little reform needed in our prisons.

He that would be angry and sin not, must not be angry with anything but sin.

The first test of a truly great man is his humility. By humility I don't mean doubt of his powers or hesitation in speaking his opinion, but merely an understanding of the relationship of what he can say and what he can do.

A thing is worth what it can do for you, not what you choose to pay for it.

No lying knight or lying priest ever prospered in any age, but especially not in the dark ones. Men prospered then only in following an openly declared purpose, and preaching candidly beloved and trusted creeds.

When love and skill work together, expect a masterpiece.

To make your children capable of honesty is the beginning of education.

In order that people may be happy in their work, these three things are needed: They must be fit for it. They must not do too much of it. And they must have a sense of success in it.

It is his restraint that is honorable to a person, not their liberty.

The essence of lying is in deception, not in words.

Books are divided into two classes, the books of the hour and the books of all time.

The distinguishing sign of slavery is to have a price, and to be bought for it.

Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you.

Every increased possession loads us with a new weariness.

We require from buildings two kinds of goodness: first, the doing their practical duty well: then that they be graceful and pleasing in doing it.

When a man is wrapped up in himself, he makes a pretty small package.

The sky is the part of creation in which nature has done for the sake of pleasing man.

One who does not know when to die, does not know how to live.

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.

He is the greatest artist who has embodied, in the sum of his works, the greatest number of the greatest ideas.

Man's only true happiness is to live in hope of something to be won by him. Reverence something to be worshipped by him, and love something to be cherished by him, forever.

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.

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