Science studies the relations of things to each other: but art studies only their relations to man. — John Ruskin Copy Share Image
Art is not a study of positive reality, it is the seeking for ideal truth. — John Ruskin Copy Share Image
If you can draw the stone rightly, everything within reach of art is also within yours. — John Ruskin Copy Share Image
Greater completion marks the progress of art, absolute completion usually its decline. — 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
Depend upon it, the first universal characteristic of all great art is Tenderness, as the second is Truth. — John Ruskin Copy Share Image
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
Your art is to be the praise of something that you love. It may only be the praise of a shell or… — 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
Great nations write their autobiographies in three manuscripts - the book of their deeds, the book of their words and the book… — John Ruskin Copy Share Image
It is excellent discipline for an author to feel that he must say all that he has to say in the fewest… — John Ruskin Copy Share Image
An artist should be well read in the best books, and thoroughly high bred, both in heart and bearing. In a word,… — John Ruskin Copy Share Image
He is the greatest artist who has embodied, in the sum of his works, the greatest number of the greatest ideas. — John Ruskin Copy Share Image
The entire vitality of art depends upon its being either full of truth, or full of use; and that, however pleasant, wonderful,… — 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
Every human action gains in honor, in grace, in all true magnificence, by its regard to things that are to come. It… — John Ruskin Copy Share Image
“Now observe; if the artist does not understand the sacredness of the truth of Impression, and supposes that, once quitting hold of… — John Ruskin Copy Share Image
The names of great painters are like passing-bells: in the name of Velasquez you hear sounded the fall of Spain; .in the… — John Ruskin Copy Share Image
“. . . no good work whatever can be perfect, and the demand for perfection is always a sign of a misunderstanding… — John Ruskin Copy Share Image
Great nations write their autobiographies in three manuscripts the book of their deeds, the book of their words, and the book of… — John Ruskin Copy Share Image
It is a shallow criticism that would define poetry as confined to literary productions in rhyme and meter rhythm. The written poem… — John Ruskin Copy Share Image
“It is not that the noble nature loves monotony, any more than it loves darkness or pain. But it can bear with… — John Ruskin Copy Share Image
Life without industry is guilt, and industry without art is brutality. — 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
The art which we may call generally art of the wayside, as opposed to that which is the business of men's lives,… — 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
Architecture is the art which so disposes and adorns the edifices raised by man, that the sight of them may contribute to… — 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
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
The art of drawing which is of more real importance to the human race than that of writing...should be taught to every… — 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
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
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
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
“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 Image
Mighty of heart, mighty of mind, magnanimous-to be this is indeed to be great in life. — John Ruskin Copy Share Image
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 Image
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 Image
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 Image
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 Image
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 Image
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 Image
“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 Image
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 Image
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 Image
