To banish imperfection is to destroy expression, to check exertion, to paralyze vitality. — 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
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
Imperfection is in some sort essential to all that we know of life. It is the sign of life in a mortal… — John Ruskin Copy Share Image
If we pretend to have reached either perfection or satisfaction, we have degraded ourselves and our work. God's work only may express… — John Ruskin Copy Share Image
Perfect taste is the faculty of receiving the greatest possible pleasure from those material sources which are attractive to oar moral nature… — John Ruskin Copy Share Image
We are foolish, and without excuse foolish, in speaking of the superiority of one sex to the other, as if they could… — John Ruskin Copy Share Image
Obedience is, indeed, founded on a kind of freedom, else it would become mere subjugation, but that freedom is only granted that… — 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
God shows us in Himself, strange as it may seem, not only authoritative perfection, but even the perfection of obedience--an obedience to… — John Ruskin Copy Share Image
“And observe, you are put to stern choice in this matter. You must either make a tool of the creature, or a… — 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
