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
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
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
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
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
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
Art is not a study of positive reality, it is the seeking for ideal truth. — John Ruskin Copy Share Image
Greater completion marks the progress of art, absolute completion usually its decline. — 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
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
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
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
All great art is the work of the whole living creature, body and soul, and chiefly of the soul. — John Ruskin Copy Share Image
Depend upon it, the first universal characteristic of all great art is Tenderness, as the second is Truth. I find this more… — John Ruskin Copy Share Image
The man who can see all gray, and red, and purples in a peach, will paint the peach rightly round, and rightly… — John Ruskin Copy Share Image
the art of becoming 'rich', in the common sense, is not absolutely nor finally the art of accumulating much money for ourselves,… — John Ruskin Copy Share Image
Science has to do with facts, art with phenomena. To science, phenomena are of use only as they lead to facts; and… — John Ruskin Copy Share Image
It is not so much in buying pictures as in being pictures, that you can encourage a noble school. The best patronage… — John Ruskin Copy Share Image
Ornamentation is the principal part of architecture, considered as a subject of fine art. — 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
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
