All great song, from the first day when human lips contrived syllables, has been sincere song. — John Ruskin Copy Share Image
The only way to understand the difficult parts of the Bible is first to read and obey the easy ones. — John Ruskin Copy Share Image
If you want to work for the kingdom of God, and to bring it, and enter into it, there is just one… — John Ruskin Copy Share Image
Work first and then rest. Work first, and then gaze, but do not use golden ploughshares, nor bind ledgers in enamel. — 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
The actual flower is the plant's highest fulfilment, and are not here exclusively for herbaria, county floras and plant geography: they are… — John Ruskin Copy Share Image
The only way to understand these difficult parts of the Bible, or even to approach them with safety, is first to read… — 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
There is but one question ultimately to be asked respecting every line you draw, Is it right or wrong? If right, it… — 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
One evening, when I was yet in my nurse's arms, I wanted to touch the tea urn, which was boiling merrily ...… — John Ruskin Copy Share Image
All real and wholesome enjoyments possible to people have been just as possible to them since first they were made of the… — John Ruskin Copy Share Image
I wish they would use English instead of Greek words. When I want to know why a leaf is green, they tell… — John Ruskin Copy Share Image
No divine terror will ever be found in the work of the man who wastes a colossal strength in elaborating toys; for… — John Ruskin Copy Share Image
I believe that the first test of a great man is his humility. I don't mean by humility, doubt of his power.… — John Ruskin Copy Share Image
A gentleman's first characteristic is that fineness of structure in the body which renders it capable of the most delicate sensation; and… — John Ruskin Copy Share Image
And thus, in full, there are four classes: the men who feel nothing, and therefore see truly; the men who feel strongly,… — John Ruskin Copy Share Image
The whole difference between a man of genius and other men, it has been said a thousand times, and most truly, is… — John Ruskin Copy Share Image
We need examples of people who, leaving Heaven to decide whether they are to rise in the world, decide for themselves that… — John Ruskin Copy Share Image
Though you may have known clever men who were indolent, you never knew a great man who was so; and when I… — 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
“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
