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
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
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
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
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
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
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
High art consists neither in altering, nor in improving nature; but in seeking throughout nature for 'whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things… — 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 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
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
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 art of nations is to be accumulative, just as science and history are; the work of living men not superseding, but… — 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
Cookery means…English thoroughness, French art, and Arabian hospitality; it means the knowledge of all fruits and herbs and balms and spices; it… — 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
“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
