Great art is precisely that which never was, nor will be taught, it is preeminently and finally the expression of the spirits… — John Ruskin Copy Share Image
Greatness is not a teachable nor gainable thing, but the expression of the mind of a God-made great man. — John Ruskin Copy Share Image
To banish imperfection is to destroy expression, to check exertion, to paralyze vitality. — John Ruskin Copy Share Image
Repose demands for its expression the implied capability of its opposite,--energy. — John Ruskin Copy Share Image
All great art is the expression of man's delight in God's work, not his own. — 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
The eye is continually influenced by what it cannot detect; nay, it is not going too far, to say that it is… — John Ruskin Copy Share Image
Expression, sentiment, truth to nature, are essential: but all those are not enough. I never care to look at a picture again,… — John Ruskin Copy Share Image
Mountains are to the rest of the body of the earth, what violent muscular action is to the body of man. The… — John Ruskin Copy Share Image
The true grotesque being the expression of the repose or play of a serious mind, there is a false grotesque opposed to… — John Ruskin Copy Share Image
As unity demanded for its expression what at first might have seemed its opposite--variety; so repose demands for its expression the implied… — John Ruskin Copy Share Image
You cannot have good architecture merely by asking people's advice on occasion. All good architecture is the expression of national life and… — John Ruskin Copy Share Image
The highest thoughts are those which are least dependent on language, and the dignity of any composition and praise to which it… — John Ruskin Copy Share Image
No human face is exactly the same in its lines on each side, no leaf perfect in its lobes, no branch in… — 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
