Architecture ... the adaptation of form to resist force. John Ruskin More Quotes by John Ruskin More Quotes From John Ruskin Of all the affected, sapless, soulless, beginningless, endless, topless, bottomless, topsiturviest, scrannel- pipiest, tongs and boniest doggerel of sounds I ever endured the deadliest of, that eternityof nothing wasthe deadliest. John Ruskin soulless endless sound The finer the nature, the more flaws it will show through the clearness of it; and it is a law of this universe that the best things shall be seldomest seen in their best form. John Ruskin form shows law I know few Christians so convinced of the splendor of the rooms in their Father's house, as to be happier when their friends are called to those mansions... Nor has the Church's ardent "desire to depart, and be with Christ," ever cured it of the singular habit of putting on mourning for every person summoned to such departure. John Ruskin christian house father One of the worst diseases to which the human creature is liable is its disease of thinking. John Ruskin liable disease thinking Work first and then rest. Work first, and then gaze, but do not use golden ploughshares, nor bind ledgers in enamel. John Ruskin golden use firsts All you have really to do is to keep your back as straight as you can; and not think about what is upon it. The real and essential meaning of "virtue" is that straightness of back. John Ruskin essentials real thinking Give an earnest-hearted, devoted girl any true work that will make her active in the dawn, and weary at night, with the consciousness that her fellow-creatures have indeed been the better for her day, and the powerless sorrow of her enthusiasm will transform itself into a majesty of radiant and beneficent peace. John Ruskin girl giving night Surely our clergy need not be surprised at the daily increasing distrust in the public mind of the efficacy of prayer. John Ruskin atheism prayer mind The only absolutely and unapproachably heroic element in the soldier's work seems to be-that he is paid little for it-and regularly. John Ruskin elements soldier littles 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. John Ruskin obstacles mountain children There is no music in a “rest” that I know of, but there's the making of music in it. And people are always missing that part of the life melody. John Ruskin melody missing people We may, without offending any laws of good taste, require of an architect, as we do of a novelist, that he should be not only correct, but entertaining. John Ruskin offending novelists law I would have, then, our ordinary dwelling-houses built to last, and built to be lovely; as rich and full of pleasantness as may be within and without: . . . with such differences as might suit and express each man's character and occupation, and partly his history. John Ruskin differences character men A little group of wise hearts is better than a wilderness full of fools. John Ruskin groups wise heart Ornamentation is the principal part of architecture, considered as a subject of fine art. John Ruskin fine architecture art Remember always, in painting as in eloquence, the greater your strength, the quieter will be your manner, and the fewer your words; and in painting, as in all the arts and acts of life the secret of high success will be found, not in a fretful and various excellence, but in a quiet singleness of justly chosen aim. John Ruskin excellence secret art Ship of the line is the most honourable thing that man, as a gregarious animal, has ever produced. John Ruskin lines animal men What is in reality cowardice and faithlessness, we call charity, and consider it the part of benevolence sometimes to forgive men's evil practice for the sake of their accurate faith, and sometimes to forgive their confessed heresy for the sake of their admirable practice. John Ruskin practice men reality All of one's life is music, if one touches the notes rightly, and in time. John Ruskin notes ifs life-is We need examples of people who, leaving Heaven to decide whether they are to rise in the world, decide for themselves that they will be happy in it, and have resolved to seek not greater wealth, but simpler pleasure; not higher fortune, but deeper felicity; making the first of possessions, self-possession; and honouring themselves in the harmless pride and calm pursuits of peace. John Ruskin pride self people
