---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In mortals there is a care for trifles…"
description: "\"In mortals there is a care for trifles which proceeds from love and conscience, and is most holy; and a care for trifles which comes of idleness and fr..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97c/john-ruskin-314_care_in-mortals-there-is-a-care-for-trifles-w_2344713.jpg"
---

#  In mortals there is a care for trifles which proceeds from…

![“In mortals there is a care for trifles which proceeds from love and conscience, and is most holy; and a care for trifles which comes of idleness and frivolity, and is most base. And so, also, there is a gravity proceeding from thought, which is most noble; and a gravity proceeding from dulness and…” quote by John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97c/john-ruskin-314_care_in-mortals-there-is-a-care-for-trifles-w_2344713.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97c/john-ruskin-314_care_in-mortals-there-is-a-care-for-trifles-w_2344713.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97c/john-ruskin-314_care_in-mortals-there-is-a-care-for-trifles-w_2344713.jpg)

> “In mortals there is a care for trifles which proceeds from love and conscience, and is most holy; and a care for trifles which comes of idleness and frivolity, and is most base. And so, also, there is a gravity proceeding from thought, which is most noble; and a gravity proceeding from dulness and mere incapability of enjoyment, which is most base.”

[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.

Human motivations split between noble love‑driven concern and base idle frivolity; likewise, thoughtful seriousness versus dull incapacity.

**In simple terms:** People act from love or laziness; thought can be noble or dull.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate love‑driven purpose, avoid idle concerns.

Themes

morality motivation human nature thought gravity

Mood

reflective thoughtful

Type

philosophical ethical

When to use this quote

- personal relationships
- public service
- creative work
- decision making

Key Concepts

ethics psychology philosophy

Questions to Reflect On

- What drives your daily concerns?
- How can you distinguish noble from base motivations?

A Different Perspective

Noble motives can be clouded by self‑interest; base motives may masquerade as virtue.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/) [Care Trifles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care-trifles-5686527/) [Conscience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscience/) [Conscience Holy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscience-holy-2796905/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Enjoyment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enjoyment/) [Frivolity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frivolity/) [Gravity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gravity/) [Holy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holy/) [Idleness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idleness/) [Incapability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/incapability-90286/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Mere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mere/) [Mortals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mortals/) [Mortals Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mortals-care-5686528/) [Noble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/noble/) [Philosophy of Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-of-mind/) [Proceeding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proceeding/) [Trifles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trifles/) [Trifles Comes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trifles-comes-5686529/)

## Related quotes

> [I believe that there is no test of greatness in periods, nations or men more sure than the development, among them or in them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/i-believe-that-there-is-no-test-of-greatness-in-periods-nations-or/)

[John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/)

> [When my conscience under the Holy Spirit makes me aware of a specific sin I should at once call that sin sin and bring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/when-my-conscience-under-the-holy-spirit-makes-me-aware-of-a-specific-2/)

[Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/)

> [When my conscience under the Holy Spirit makes me aware of a specific sin I should at once call that sin sin and bring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/when-my-conscience-under-the-holy-spirit-makes-me-aware-of-a-specific/)

[Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/)

> [“A lowly knowledge of thyself is a surer way to God than the deep searching of a man’s learnings. Not that learning is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/a-lowly-knowledge-of-thyself-is-a-surer-way-to-god-than-the-deep/)

[Thomas à Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/)

> [Incapability is a fake story told by heart to its mind, don't ever believe it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/incapability-is-a-fake-story-told-by-heart-to-its-mind-don-t-ever/)

[Senoraroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/senoraroy/)

> [The University brings out all abilities, including incapability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/the-university-brings-out-all-abilities-including-incapability/)

[Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/)

> [We're an ignorant nation right now. We're not really capable, I do not think, the majority of our people, of making the decisions that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/we-re-an-ignorant-nation-right-now-we-re-not-really-capable-i-do-not/)

[Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/)

> [Spite is our unjust reaction to the exposure of our incapability's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-frank/spite-is-our-unjust-reaction-to-the-exposure-of-our-incapability-s/)

[Jacob Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-frank/)

> [We must settle this question now -- whether in a free government the minority have the right to break it up whenever they choose.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/we-must-settle-this-question-now-whether-in-a-free-government-the/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [Our large trading cities bear to me very nearly the aspect of monastic establishments in which the roar of the mill-wheel and the crane…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/our-large-trading-cities-bear-to-me-very-nearly-the-aspect-of/)

[John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/)

> [Seriously, I think it is a grave fault in life that so much time is wasted in social matters, because it not only takes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-larkin/seriously-i-think-it-is-a-grave-fault-in-life-that-so-much-time-is/)

[Philip Larkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-larkin/)

> [The people of the United States, perhaps more than any other nation in history, love to abase themselves and proclaim their unworthiness, and seem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robertson-davies/the-people-of-the-united-states-perhaps-more-than-any-other-nation-in/)

[Robertson Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robertson-davies/)

> [“She had debated, in the frivolity of the beginning, whether to build a hole or a tower; a hole, because she was fond of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keri-hulme/she-had-debated-in-the-frivolity-of-the-beginning-whether-to-build-a/)

[Keri Hulme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keri-hulme/)

> [Youth is always too serious, and just now it is too serious about frivolity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/youth-is-always-too-serious-and-just-now-it-is-too-serious-about/)

[Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/)

> [Lord, send Your life throughout the entire church. Visit Your church; restore sound doctrine and holy, earnest living. Take away from professing Christians their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/lord-send-your-life-throughout-the-entire-church-visit-your-church/)

[Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/)

## 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 Care quotes

> [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/)

[Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/)

> [We all know what it feels like to love someone and care about them and want to protect them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiana-madeira/we-all-know-what-it-feels-like-to-love-someone-and-care-about-them/)

[Kiana Madeira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiana-madeira/)

> [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/)

[Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/)

> [I certainly do care for you Jeff Campbell less than you are always thinking and much more than you are ever knowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/i-certainly-do-care-for-you-jeff-campbell-less-than-you-are-always/)

[Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/)

> [Advances in technology will continue to reach far into every sector of our economy. Future job and economic growth in industry, defense, transportation, agriculture,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-bond/advances-in-technology-will-continue-to-reach-far-into-every-sector/)

[Christopher Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-bond/)

> [As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. There's a trust there. I feel like little girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/as-a-child-i-had-a-lot-of-older-gay-men-taking-care-of-me-there-s-a/)

[Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/)

> [I believe in taxation and health care that is outside the usual libertarian mandate, because I don't want people to have to suffer. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-peart/i-believe-in-taxation-and-health-care-that-is-outside-the-usual/)

[Neil Peart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-peart/)

> [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/)

[Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/)

> [What makes you care about nature, about the planet? Is it really that you're afraid of what's going to happen if you don't take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-eisenstein/what-makes-you-care-about-nature-about-the-planet-is-it-really-that/)

[Charles Eisenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-eisenstein/)

> [You feed yourself. Make sure you have all the information, whether it's aesthetic, scientific, mathematical, I don't care what it is. Then you walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/you-feed-yourself-make-sure-you-have-all-the-information-whether-it-s/)

[Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/)

> [When you're in your twenties and starting out, the problem is that you care about being cool. Being older, I can care less about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-righton/when-you-re-in-your-twenties-and-starting-out-the-problem-is-that-you/)

[James Righton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-righton/)

> [When will society, like a mother, take care of all her children?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/when-will-society-like-a-mother-take-care-of-all-her-children/)

[Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/)

> [I don't care if you make a print on a bath mat, just as long as it is a good print.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-weston/i-don-t-care-if-you-make-a-print-on-a-bath-mat-just-as-long-as-it-is/)

[Edward Weston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-weston/)

> [The world's problems are, by and large, human problems-the unavoidable consequence of egoic sleepwalking. If we care to look, all the signs are present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adyashanti/the-world-s-problems-are-by-and-large-human-problems-the-unavoidable/)

[Adyashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adyashanti/)

> [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/)

[John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/)

[Browse all 19,019 Care quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "In mortals there is a care for trifles which proceeds from love and conscience, and is most holy; and a care for trifles which comes of idleness and frivolity, and is most base. And so, also, there is a gravity proceeding from thought, which is most noble; and a gravity proceeding from dulness and mere incapability of enjoyment, which is most base.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "John Ruskin"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/in-mortals-there-is-a-care-for-trifles-which-proceeds-from-love-and/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Care"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/in-mortals-there-is-a-care-for-trifles-which-proceeds-from-love-and/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97c/john-ruskin-314_care_in-mortals-there-is-a-care-for-trifles-w_2344713.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97c/john-ruskin-314_care_in-mortals-there-is-a-care-for-trifles-w_2344713.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97c/john-ruskin-314_care_in-mortals-there-is-a-care-for-trifles-w_2344713.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“In mortals there is a care for trifles which proceeds from love and conscience, and is most holy; and a care…” — 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": "In mortals there is a care...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/in-mortals-there-is-a-care-for-trifles-which-proceeds-from-love-and/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/in-mortals-there-is-a-care-for-trifles-which-proceeds-from-love-and/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
