770 Quotes by John Ruskin

This is the true nature of home – it is the place of Peace; the shelter, not only from all injury, but from all terror, doubt, and division.

You cannot have good architecture merely by asking people’s advice on occasion. All good architecture is the expression of national life and character; and it is produced by a prevalent and eager national taste, or desire for beauty.

Drawing is a means of obtaining and communicating knowledge.

Repose demands for its expression the implied capability of its opposite, – energy.

There is a working class – strong and happy – among both rich and poor: there is an idle class – weak, wicked, and miserable – among both rich and poor.

You will find it less easy to unroot faults than to choke them by gaining virtues. Do not think of your faults, still less of others faults; in every person who comes near you look for what is good and strong; honor that; rejoice in it and as you can, try to imitate it; and your faults will drop off like dead leaves when their time comes.

I’ve seen the Rhine with younger wave, O’er every obstacle to rave. I see the Rhine in his native wild Is still a mighty mountain child.

Childhood often holds a truth with its feeble finger, which the grasp of manhood cannot retain, – which it is the pride of utmost age to recover.

However good you may be you have faults; however dull you may be you can find out what some of them are, and however slight they may be you had better make some – not too painful, but patient efforts to get rid of them.