The artist's business is to feel, although he may think a little sometimes... when he has nothing better to do. — John Ruskin Copy Share Image
To follow art for the sake of being a great man, and therefore to cast about continually for some means of achieving… — John Ruskin Copy Share Image
I have seen, and heard, much of Cockney impudence before now; but never expected to hear a coxcomb ask two hundred guineas… — John Ruskin Copy Share Image
Nature is always mysterious and secret in her use of means; and art is always likest her when it is most inexplicable. — John Ruskin Copy Share Image
It is in this power of saying everything, and yet saying nothing too plainly, that the perfection of art consists. — John Ruskin Copy Share Image
Painting with all its technicalities, difficulties, and peculiar ends, is nothing but a noble and expressive language, invaluable as the vehicle of… — John Ruskin Copy Share Image
Every good piece of art... involves first essentially the evidence of human skill, and the formation of an actually beautiful thing by… — John Ruskin Copy Share Image
No art can be noble which is incapable of expressing thought, and no art is capable of expressing thought which does not… — John Ruskin Copy Share Image
“To study one good master till you understand him will teach you more than a superficial acquaintance with a thousand: power of… — John Ruskin Copy Share Image
The power of painter or poet to describe what he calls an ideal thing depends upon its being to him not an… — John Ruskin Copy Share Image
All that is good in art is the expression of one soul talking to another, and is precious according to the greatness… — John Ruskin Copy Share Image
All that we call ideal in Greek or any other art, because to us it is false and visionary, was, to the… — John Ruskin Copy Share Image
Science deals exclusively with things as they are in themselves; and art exclusively with things as they affect the human sense and… — John Ruskin Copy Share Image
In old times men used their powers of painting to show the objects of faith, in later times they use the objects… — John Ruskin Copy Share Image
No good work whatever can be perfect, and the demand for perfection is always a sign of a misunderstanding of the ends… — John Ruskin Copy Share Image
Nothing can be true which is either complete or vacant; every touch is false which does not suggest more than it represents,… — John Ruskin Copy Share Image
“Occult Theft,--Theft which hides itself even from itself, and is legal, respectable, and cowardly,--corrupts the body and soul of man, to the last fibre… — John Ruskin Copy Share
Mighty of heart, mighty of mind, magnanimous-to be this is indeed to be great in life. — John Ruskin Copy Share
Life is a magic vase filled to the brim, so made that you cannot dip from it nor draw from it; but it overflows… — John Ruskin Copy Share
As in the instances of alchemy, astrology, witchcraft, and other such popular creeds, political economy, has a plausible idea at the root of it. — John Ruskin Copy Share
I am far more provoked at being thought foolish by foolish people, than pleased at being thought sensible by sensible people; and the average… — John Ruskin Copy Share
When we build ... let it not be for present delights nor for present use alone. Let it be such work as our descendants… — John Ruskin Copy Share
It is far more difficult to be simple than to be complicated; far more difficult to sacrifice skill and easy execution in the proper… — John Ruskin Copy Share
It is a good and safe rule to sojourn in every place as if you meant to spend your life there, never omitting an… — John Ruskin Copy Share
“You may trust to the truth of my sympathy; but you must remember that I am engaged in the investigation of enormous religious and… — John Ruskin Copy Share
And remember, child, that nothing is ever done beautifully, which is done in rivalship; or nobly, which is done in pride. — John Ruskin Copy Share
The world is full of vulgar Purists, who bring discredit on all selection by the silliness of their choice; and this the more, because… — John Ruskin Copy Share
Like other beautiful things in this world, its end (that of a shaft) is to be beautiful; and, in proportion to its beauty, it… — John Ruskin Copy Share
All are to be men of genius in their degree,--rivulets or rivers, it does not matter, so that the souls be clear and pure;… — John Ruskin Copy Share
The art of drawing which is of more real importance to the human race than that of writing...should be taught to every child just… — John Ruskin Copy Share
