J

John Ruskin

61 quotes

John Ruskin (1819–1900) was an English art critic, social thinker, and philanthropist whose ideas about art, architecture, and society profoundly influenced the Victorian and Edwardian eras. His passionate advocacy for beauty, craftsmanship, and social justice inspired movements ranging from the Arts and Crafts to early environmentalism.

“The work of science is to substitute facts for appearances, and demonstrations for impressions.”

— John Ruskin

Science

All Quotes by John Ruskin

“No person who is not a great sculptor or painter can be an architect. If he is not a sculptor or painter, he can only be a builder.”

— John Ruskin

Great

“A little thought and a little kindness are often worth more than a great deal of money.”

— John Ruskin

Great

“You might sooner get lightning out of incense smoke than true action or passion out of your modern English religion.”

— John Ruskin

Religion

“To see clearly is poetry, prophecy and religion all in one.”

— John Ruskin

Poetry

“Whether for life or death, do your own work well.”

— John Ruskin

Death

“The first test of a truly great man is his humility. By humility I don't mean doubt of his powers or hesitation in speaking his opinion, but merely an understanding of the relationship of what he can say and what he can do.”

— John Ruskin

Great

“Doing is the great thing, for if people resolutely do what is right, they come in time to like doing it.”

— John Ruskin

Great

“In general, pride is at the bottom of all great mistakes.”

— John Ruskin

Great

“When love and skill work together, expect a masterpiece.”

— John Ruskin

Work

“All great art is the work of the whole living creature, body and soul, and chiefly of the soul.”

— John Ruskin

Art

“Nearly all the powerful people of this age are unbelievers, the best of them in doubt and misery, the most in plodding hesitation, doing as well as they can, what practical work lies at hand.”

— John Ruskin

Age

“We require from buildings two kinds of goodness: first, the doing their practical duty well: then that they be graceful and pleasing in doing it.”

— John Ruskin

Architecture

“You may either win your peace or buy it: win it, by resistance to evil buy it, by compromise with evil.”

— John Ruskin

Peace

“There is no wealth but life.”

— John Ruskin

Life

“He that would be angry and sin not, must not be angry with anything but sin.”

— John Ruskin

Anger

“Do not think of your faults, still less of other's faults look for what is good and strong, and try to imitate it. Your faults will drop off, like dead leaves, when their time comes.”

— John Ruskin

Good

“The principle of all successful effort is to try to do not what is absolutely the best, but what is easily within our power, and suited for our temperament and condition.”

— John Ruskin

Best

“The first condition of education is being able to put someone to wholesome and meaningful work.”

— John Ruskin

Education

“Every great person is always being helped by everybody for their gift is to get good out of all things and all persons.”

— John Ruskin

Great

“Great nations write their autobiographies in three manuscripts - the book of their deeds, the book of their words and the book of their art.”

— John Ruskin

Art