--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I would rather teach drawing that my…" description: "\"I would rather teach drawing that my pupils may learn to love nature, than teach the looking at nature that they may learn to draw.\" — John Ruskin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ae/john-ruskin-314_drawing_i-would-rather-teach-drawing-that-my-pup_2914438.jpg" --- # I would rather teach drawing that my pupils may learn to… ![“I would rather teach drawing that my pupils may learn to love nature, than teach the looking at nature that they may learn to draw.” quote by John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ae/john-ruskin-314_drawing_i-would-rather-teach-drawing-that-my-pup_2914438.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ae/john-ruskin-314_drawing_i-would-rather-teach-drawing-that-my-pup_2914438.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ae/john-ruskin-314_drawing_i-would-rather-teach-drawing-that-my-pup_2914438.jpg) > “I would rather teach drawing that my pupils may learn to love nature, than teach the looking at nature that they may learn to draw.” [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Teaching drawing fosters love for nature, whereas teaching observation alone may miss that emotional connection. **In simple terms:** Drawing teaches love for nature; observation alone may not. Key Takeaway Focus on nurturing appreciation before technique. Themes education art nature pedagogy Mood inspirational reflective Type philosophical educational When to use this quote - art classes - environmental education - curriculum design Key Concepts Aesthetic appreciation holistic learning Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance appreciation and skill? - What activities nurture both love and ability? A Different Perspective May neglect technical skill development. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Drawing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drawing/) [Drawing Pupils](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drawing-pupils-4213696/) [Draws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/draws/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Learn Draw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learn-draw-247367/) [Love Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-nature/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Nature love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-love/) [Nature Teach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-teach-1019535/) [Pupils](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pupils/) [Teach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teach/) [Teach Drawing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teach-drawing-4213695/) [Teach Looking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teach-looking-4213697/) [Teaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teaching/) ## Related quotes > [“I believe that the sight is more important thing that the drawing; and i would rather teach drawing that my pupils may learn to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/i-believe-that-the-sight-is-more-important-thing-that-the-drawing-and/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [There is, however, a change going on in the world. There's far more interest in drawing now than there has been in a long,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-baskin/there-is-however-a-change-going-on-in-the-world-there-s-far-more/) [Leonard Baskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-baskin/) > [Allow nature to teach you stillness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/allow-nature-to-teach-you-stillness/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [The great lesson that nature seems to teach us at all ages is self-dependence, self-protection, self-support. In the hours of our keenest sufferings all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-cady-stanton/the-great-lesson-that-nature-seems-to-teach-us-at-all-ages-is-self/) [Elizabeth Cady Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-cady-stanton/) > [I think it's really important with kids just to show them the beauty of nature and teach them a profound respect for nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-johnson/i-think-it-s-really-important-with-kids-just-to-show-them-the-beauty/) [Jack Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-johnson/) > [Young people, I want to beg of you always keep your eyes open to what Mother Nature has to teach you. By so doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington-carver/young-people-i-want-to-beg-of-you-always-keep-your-eyes-open-to-what/) [George Washington Carver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington-carver/) > [When you forget to hate things Unknowingly nature teach you to love things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/subi-foa/when-you-forget-to-hate-things-unknowingly-nature-teach-you-to-love/) [Subi Foa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/subi-foa/) > [“Nature is also God's way of communicating with us. Jesus himself used nature to teach us about God. He used birds and flowers, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adelina-st-clair/nature-is-also-god-s-way-of-communicating-with-us-jesus-himself-used/) [Adelina St. Clair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adelina-st-clair/) > [Those honor nature well, who teach that she can speak on everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/those-honor-nature-well-who-teach-that-she-can-speak-on-everything/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [Do not feed children on a maudlin sentimentalism or dogmatic religion; give them nature. Let their souls drink in all that is pure and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-burbank/do-not-feed-children-on-a-maudlin-sentimentalism-or-dogmatic-religion/) [Luther Burbank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-burbank/) > [ Learn how to draw. It's the basis of what we \[animation directors\] do. Keep a sketchbook. Try making a very simple little film. Try… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-musker/learn-how-to-draw-it-s-the-basis-of-what-we-animation-directors-do/) [John Musker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-musker/) > [Instead of making a resolution to learn how to code in 2013, you might make a resolution to learn how to draw.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/auren-hoffman/instead-of-making-a-resolution-to-learn-how-to-code-in-2013-you-might/) [Auren Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/auren-hoffman/) > [It takes 25 years to learn to draw, one hour to learn to paint.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-auguste-dominique-ingres/it-takes-25-years-to-learn-to-draw-one-hour-to-learn-to-paint/) [Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-auguste-dominique-ingres/) > [It takes time to learn to draw. It takes years, not a few weeks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilberto-hernandez-guerrero/it-takes-time-to-learn-to-draw-it-takes-years-not-a-few-weeks/) [Gilberto Hernandez Guerrero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilberto-hernandez-guerrero/) > [If you were to draw Bugs, the easiest way is to learn how to draw a carrot and then hook a rabbit onto it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-jones/if-you-were-to-draw-bugs-the-easiest-way-is-to-learn-how-to-draw-a/) [Chuck Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-jones/) ## More by John Ruskin > [“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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/occult-theft-theft-which-hides-itself-even-from-itself-and-is-legal/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [Mighty of heart, mighty of mind, magnanimous-to be this is indeed to be great in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/mighty-of-heart-mighty-of-mind-magnanimous-to-be-this-is-indeed-to-be/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [Life is a magic vase filled to the brim, so made that you cannot dip from it nor draw from it; but it overflows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/life-is-a-magic-vase-filled-to-the-brim-so-made-that-you-cannot-dip/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [As in the instances of alchemy, astrology, witchcraft, and other such popular creeds, political economy, has a plausible idea at the root of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/as-in-the-instances-of-alchemy-astrology-witchcraft-and-other-such/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [I am far more provoked at being thought foolish by foolish people, than pleased at being thought sensible by sensible people; and the average…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/i-am-far-more-provoked-at-being-thought-foolish-by-foolish-people/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [When we build ... let it not be for present delights nor for present use alone. Let it be such work as our descendants…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/when-we-build-let-it-not-be-for-present-delights-nor-for-present-use/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [It is far more difficult to be simple than to be complicated; far more difficult to sacrifice skill and easy execution in the proper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/it-is-far-more-difficult-to-be-simple-than-to-be-complicated-far-more/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [It is a good and safe rule to sojourn in every place as if you meant to spend your life there, never omitting an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/it-is-a-good-and-safe-rule-to-sojourn-in-every-place-as-if-you-meant/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [“You may trust to the truth of my sympathy; but you must remember that I am engaged in the investigation of enormous religious and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/you-may-trust-to-the-truth-of-my-sympathy-but-you-must-remember-that/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [And remember, child, that nothing is ever done beautifully, which is done in rivalship; or nobly, which is done in pride.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/and-remember-child-that-nothing-is-ever-done-beautifully-which-is/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [It’s unwise to pay too much, but it’s worse to pay too little.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/it-s-unwise-to-pay-too-much-but-it-s-worse-to-pay-too-little/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [The world is full of vulgar Purists, who bring discredit on all selection by the silliness of their choice; and this the more, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/the-world-is-full-of-vulgar-purists-who-bring-discredit-on-all/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [Like other beautiful things in this world, its end (that of a shaft) is to be beautiful; and, in proportion to its beauty, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/like-other-beautiful-things-in-this-world-its-end-that-of-a-shaft-is/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [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;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/all-are-to-be-men-of-genius-in-their-degree-rivulets-or-rivers-it/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/the-art-of-drawing-which-is-of-more-real-importance-to-the-human-race/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) [Explore all 696 John Ruskin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) ## More Drawing quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [From as long as I can remember, I was always fond of drawing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-lucia/from-as-long-as-i-can-remember-i-was-always-fond-of-drawing/) [St. Lucia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-lucia/) > [My drawing not that goog but alwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/slowly-fading/my-drawing-not-that-goog-but-alwell/) [Slowly\_fading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/slowly-fading/) > [The director's job should give you a sense of music without drawing attention to itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hackford/the-director-s-job-should-give-you-a-sense-of-music-without-drawing/) [Taylor Hackford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hackford/) > [It is the common defect of modern art study. Too many students do not know why they draw.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-henri/it-is-the-common-defect-of-modern-art-study-too-many-students-do-not/) [Robert Henri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-henri/) > [God holds each of us by a string. When we sin, we cut the string. But God ties it up again, making a knot.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/god-holds-each-of-us-by-a-string-when-we-sin-we-cut-the-string-but/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) > [The big problem for comic art is you don't want to overwork it. If a drawing is overworked it isn't funny. It's the spontaneity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-sorel/the-big-problem-for-comic-art-is-you-don-t-want-to-overwork-it-if-a/) [Edward Sorel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-sorel/) > [Keep a bad drawing until by study you have found out why it is bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-henri/keep-a-bad-drawing-until-by-study-you-have-found-out-why-it-is-bad/) [Robert Henri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-henri/) > [Cold calculation, random spots of color, mathematically exact construction (clearly shown or concealed), drawing that is now silent and now strident . . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giacomo-puccini/cold-calculation-random-spots-of-color-mathematically-exact/) [Giacomo Puccini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giacomo-puccini/) > [She spent hours drawing on her own, trying to perfect her craft. And when she got into music, she had that same diligence in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-joplin/she-spent-hours-drawing-on-her-own-trying-to-perfect-her-craft-and/) [Laura Joplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-joplin/) > [Being on a trapeze is like dreaming. I feel totally outside of myself when I'm flying. You know, designing shoes, my imagination is flying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-louboutin/being-on-a-trapeze-is-like-dreaming-i-feel-totally-outside-of-myself/) [Christian Louboutin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-louboutin/) > [By the time they were pulling into the parking lot of the A&P, the mood was fading, the moment gone. Amy could feel it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-strout/by-the-time-they-were-pulling-into-the-parking-lot-of-the-a-p-the/) [Elizabeth Strout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-strout/) > [In 'Gran Torino,' Eastwood moves towards the climax of the movie not by staging a shoot-out, but by putting his weapons to one side…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-korda/in-gran-torino-eastwood-moves-towards-the-climax-of-the-movie-not-by/) [Michael Korda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-korda/) > [You've seen the first issue and what happened in the last page. Some pretty awful stuff. I don't know why I seem to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declan-shalvey/you-ve-seen-the-first-issue-and-what-happened-in-the-last-page-some/) [Declan Shalvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declan-shalvey/) > [David Shrigley is somewhere between stand-up comedy and cave paintings. He does these brilliant esoteric, simple drawings - you might even say bad drawings.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-reid/david-shrigley-is-somewhere-between-stand-up-comedy-and-cave/) [Noah Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-reid/) [Browse all 2,299 Drawing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drawing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I would rather teach drawing that my pupils may learn to love nature, than teach the looking at nature that they may learn to draw.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Ruskin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/i-would-rather-teach-drawing-that-my-pupils-may-learn-to-love-nature/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Drawing" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/i-would-rather-teach-drawing-that-my-pupils-may-learn-to-love-nature/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ae/john-ruskin-314_drawing_i-would-rather-teach-drawing-that-my-pup_2914438.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ae/john-ruskin-314_drawing_i-would-rather-teach-drawing-that-my-pup_2914438.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ae/john-ruskin-314_drawing_i-would-rather-teach-drawing-that-my-pup_2914438.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I would rather teach drawing that my pupils may learn to love nature, than teach the looking at nature that…” — John Ruskin", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "John Ruskin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I would rather teach drawing that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/i-would-rather-teach-drawing-that-my-pupils-may-learn-to-love-nature/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/i-would-rather-teach-drawing-that-my-pupils-may-learn-to-love-nature/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```