--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If men lived like men indeed, their…" description: "\"If men lived like men indeed, their houses would be temples -- temples which we should hardly dare to injure, and in which it would make us holy to be ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b2/john-ruskin-314_affection_if-men-lived-like-men-indeed-their-house_2616331.jpg" --- # If men lived like men indeed, their houses would be… ![“If men lived like men indeed, their houses would be temples -- temples which we should hardly dare to injure, and in which it would make us holy to be permitted to live; and there must be a strange dissolution of natural affection, a strange unthankfulness for all that homes have given and parents…” quote by John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b2/john-ruskin-314_affection_if-men-lived-like-men-indeed-their-house_2616331.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b2/john-ruskin-314_affection_if-men-lived-like-men-indeed-their-house_2616331.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b2/john-ruskin-314_affection_if-men-lived-like-men-indeed-their-house_2616331.jpg) > “If men lived like men indeed, their houses would be temples -- temples which we should hardly dare to injure, and in which it would make us holy to be permitted to live; and there must be a strange dissolution of natural affection, a strange unthankfulness for all that homes have given and parents taught, a strange consciousness that we have been unfaithful to our fathers honor, or that our own lives are not such as would make our dwellings sacred to our children, when each man would fain build to himself, and build for the little revolution of his own life only.” [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. A society that respects the sanctity of home treats it as a sacred space, fostering reverence and responsibility toward family and heritage. **In simple terms:** Homes should be revered as sacred places. Key Takeaway Treat your home with respect. Themes family responsibility tradition spirituality Mood reflective respectful Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - parenting - home renovation - community building - intergenerational dialogue Key Concepts social contract cultural heritage ethical living Questions to Reflect On - How do you honor your home’s legacy? - What responsibilities arise from treating home as sacred? A Different Perspective Neglecting the sacredness of home can erode social bonds. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Affection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affection/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Consciousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consciousness/) [Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dare/) [Dwelling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dwelling/) [Dwellings Sacred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dwellings-sacred-2070812/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Given](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/given/) [Holy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holy/) [Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home/) [Honor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honor/) [House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/house/) [Houses Temples](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/houses-temples-1842547/) [Like Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-men/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Make Dwellings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-dwellings-2070814/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Men Houses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-houses-2070813/) [Natural](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/natural/) [Our children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-children/) [Parent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parent/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Revolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revolution/) [Sacred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sacred/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Strange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strange/) [Taught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taught/) [Temples](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/temples/) [Unfaithful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unfaithful/) [Would be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would-be/) ## Related quotes > [He was a specialist in Feng Shui; that is to say, he was consulted as to the correct ubication and orientation of houses and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniele-var/he-was-a-specialist-in-feng-shui-that-is-to-say-he-was-consulted-as/) [Daniele Vare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniele-var/) > [Rich men's houses are seldom beautiful, rarely comfortable, and never original. It is a constant source of surprise to people of moderate means to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margot-asquith/rich-men-s-houses-are-seldom-beautiful-rarely-comfortable-and-never/) [Margot Asquith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margot-asquith/) > [Such as are still observing upon others are like those who are always abroad at other men's houses, reforming everything there while their own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/such-as-are-still-observing-upon-others-are-like-those-who-are-always/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Gambling houses are temples where the most sordid and turbulent passions contend; there no spectator can be indifferent. A card or a small square…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-georg-ritter-von-zimmermann/gambling-houses-are-temples-where-the-most-sordid-and-turbulent/) [Johann Georg Ritter von Zimmermann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-georg-ritter-von-zimmermann/) > [In the midst of these pleasing ideas we should be unfaithful to ourselves if we should ever lose sight of the danger to our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-adams/in-the-midst-of-these-pleasing-ideas-we-should-be-unfaithful-to/) [Samuel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-adams/) > [Most of the time when someone blames the other for being unfaithful. They're the ones unfaithful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/most-of-the-time-when-someone-blames-the-other-for-being-unfaithful/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When a married person uses pornography, or is unfaithful, it compromises not just his (or her) purity, but also compromises the spouse's purity. As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-o-donnell/when-a-married-person-uses-pornography-or-is-unfaithful-it/) [Christine O'Donnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-o-donnell/) > [A woman can give a man a million reasons to be faithful, and he will find one reason to cheat. A man can give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-woman-can-give-a-man-a-million-reasons-to-be-faithful-and-he-will/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Every one says there always there for you. When you finally need some one, no one is ever there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sinahi-martinez/every-one-says-there-always-there-for-you-when-you-finally-need-some/) [Sinahi Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sinahi-martinez/) > [Wanting hope in an unfaithful ZONE!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jade/wanting-hope-in-an-unfaithful-zone/) [Jade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jade/) > [Why do you tell me all the things you should be telling your girlfriend?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/why-do-you-tell-me-all-the-things-you-should-be-telling-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Cheaters want you to be faithful while they're being unfaithful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/cheaters-want-you-to-be-faithful-while-they-re-being-unfaithful/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [I know that he knows I'm unfaithful and it kills him inside to know that I am happy with some other guy. I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rihanna/i-know-that-he-knows-i-m-unfaithful-and-it-kills-him-inside-to-know/) [Rihanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rihanna/) > [I dont play when it comes to being unfaithful. You cheat, you get no second chance & you lost the best thing that ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-dont-play-when-it-comes-to-being-unfaithful-you-cheat-you-get-no/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The unfaithful woman, if she is known for such by the person concerned, is only unfaithful. If she is thought faithful, she is perfidious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/the-unfaithful-woman-if-she-is-known-for-such-by-the-person-concerned/) [Jean De La Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) ## 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 Affection quotes > [My team and I have reunited two elements that coexist with diffiulty: respect and affection, because when they love you they don't respect you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakira/my-team-and-i-have-reunited-two-elements-that-coexist-with-diffiulty/) [Shakira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakira/) > [Needs cause motivation. Deep-rooted desires for esteem, affection, belonging, achievement, self-actualization, power, and control motivate us to push for what we want and need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorii-myers/needs-cause-motivation-deep-rooted-desires-for-esteem-affection/) [Lorii Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorii-myers/) > [“It is to build a house with affection, even as if your beloved were to dwell in that house.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/it-is-to-build-a-house-with-affection-even-as-if-your-beloved-were-to/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [In this choice of inheritance we have given to our frame of polity the image of a relation in blood; binding up the constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/in-this-choice-of-inheritance-we-have-given-to-our-frame-of-polity/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [I, measuring his affections by my own, Which then most sought where most might not be found, Being one too many by my weary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-measuring-his-affections-by-my-own-which-then-most-sought-where/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [There are a number of qualities which are important for mental peace, but from the little experience I have, I believe that one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/there-are-a-number-of-qualities-which-are-important-for-mental-peace/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [A lost love. Deny it who will, ridicule it, treat it as mere imagination and sentiment, the thing is and will be; and women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinah-maria-murlock-craik/a-lost-love-deny-it-who-will-ridicule-it-treat-it-as-mere-imagination/) [Dinah Maria Murlock Craik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinah-maria-murlock-craik/) > [Affection! Affection is false.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-i/affection-affection-is-false/) [Elizabeth I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-i/) > [We are a spectacular, splendid manifestation of life. We have language. . . . We have affection. We have genes for usefulness, and usefulness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-thomas/we-are-a-spectacular-splendid-manifestation-of-life-we-have-language/) [Lewis Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-thomas/) > [Listen, I have a great affection and respect for Joe Biden. I think he's been a great vice president. He's taken on a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-axelrod/listen-i-have-a-great-affection-and-respect-for-joe-biden-i-think-he/) [David Axelrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-axelrod/) > [The still affection of the heart Became an outward breathing type, That into stillness past again, And left a want unknown before; Although the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/the-still-affection-of-the-heart-became-an-outward-breathing-type/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [I am persuaded that there is no affection of the human heart more exquisitely pure, than that which is felt by a grateful son…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-more/i-am-persuaded-that-there-is-no-affection-of-the-human-heart-more/) [Hannah More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-more/) > [If you live in a material universe where acquiring things is very important to you, then family is an absolute deterrent to maintaining that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-taylor-gatto/if-you-live-in-a-material-universe-where-acquiring-things-is-very/) [John Taylor Gatto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-taylor-gatto/) > [Our sweetest experiences of affection are meant to be suggestions of that realm which is the home of the heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/our-sweetest-experiences-of-affection-are-meant-to-be-suggestions-of/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [“Georgia O’Keeffe moved to rural New Mexico, from which she would sign her letters to the people she loved, “from the faraway nearby.” It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-solnit/georgia-o-keeffe-moved-to-rural-new-mexico-from-which-she-would-sign/) [Rebecca Solnit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-solnit/) [Browse all 2,465 Affection quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affection/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If men lived like men indeed, their houses would be temples -- temples which we should hardly dare to injure, and in which it would make us holy to be permitted to live; and there must be a strange dissolution of natural affection, a strange unthankfulness for all that homes have given and parents taught, a strange consciousness that we have been unfaithful to our fathers honor, or that our own lives are not such as would make our dwellings sacred to our children, when each man would fain build to himself, and build for the little revolution of his own life only.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Ruskin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/if-men-lived-like-men-indeed-their-houses-would-be-temples-temples/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Affection" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/if-men-lived-like-men-indeed-their-houses-would-be-temples-temples/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b2/john-ruskin-314_affection_if-men-lived-like-men-indeed-their-house_2616331.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b2/john-ruskin-314_affection_if-men-lived-like-men-indeed-their-house_2616331.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b2/john-ruskin-314_affection_if-men-lived-like-men-indeed-their-house_2616331.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If men lived like men indeed, their houses would be temples -- temples which we should hardly dare to…” — 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": "If men lived like men indeed,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/if-men-lived-like-men-indeed-their-houses-would-be-temples-temples/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/if-men-lived-like-men-indeed-their-houses-would-be-temples-temples/#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 } } ] } ```