Greater completion marks the progress of art, absolute completion usually its decline. John Ruskin More Quotes by John Ruskin More Quotes From John Ruskin How false is the conception, how frantic the pursuit, of that treacherous phantom which men call Liberty. John Ruskin phantomslibertymen No small misery is caused by overworked and unhappy people, in the dark views which they necessarily take up themselves, and force upon others, of work itself. John Ruskin viewsdarkpeople Engraving then, is, in brief terms, the Art of Scratch. John Ruskin scratchestermart The great cry that rises from our manufacturing cities, louder than their furnace blast, is all in very deed for this, that we manufacture everything there except men; we blanch cotton, and strengthen steel, and refine sugar, and shape pottery; but to brighten, to strengthen, to refine, or to form a single living spirit, never enters into our estimate of advantages. John Ruskin steelcitiesmen So long as we see the stones and joints, and are not deceived as to the points of support in any piece of architecture, we may rather praise than regret the dexterous artifices which compel us to feel as if there were fibre in its shafts and life in its branches. John Ruskin supportregretlong Wise laws and just restraints are to a noble nation not chains, but chains of mail, -- strength and defense, though something of an incumbrance. John Ruskin libertywiselaw But whether thus submissively or not, at least be sure that you go to the author to get at his meaning, not to find yours. John Ruskin I would rather teach drawing that my pupils may learn to love nature, than teach the looking at nature that they may learn to draw. John Ruskin drawingteachingmay You do not see with the lens of the eye. You seen through that, and by means of that, but you see with the soul of the eye. John Ruskin eyesoulmean There is a satisfactory and available power in every one to learn drawing if he wishes, just as nearly all persons have the power of learning French, Latin or arithmetic, in a decent and useful degree. John Ruskin drawingpowerlatin I used to lie down on the grass and draw the blades as they grew - until every square foot of meadow, or mossy bank, became a possession to me. John Ruskin squaresfeetlying We shall be remembered in history as the most cruel, and therefore the most unwise, generation of men that ever yet troubled the earth: the most cruel in proportion to their sensibility, the most unwise in proportion to their science. No people, understanding pain, ever inflicted so much: no people, understanding facts, ever acted on them so little. John Ruskin painmenpeople It is impossible to tell you the perfect sweetness of the lips and closed eyes, nor the solemnity of the seal of death which is set upon the whole figure. It is, in every way, perfect--truth itself, but truth selected with inconceivable refinement of feeling. John Ruskin eyeperfectfeelings Your art is to be the praise of something that you love. It may only be the praise of a shell or a stone. John Ruskin shellsmayart There was always more in the world than men could see, walked they ever so slowly; they will see it no better for going fast. The really precious things are thought and sight, not pace. John Ruskin journeysightmen All true opinions are living, and show their life by being capable of nourishment; therefore of change. But their change is that of a tree not of a cloud. John Ruskin opinioncloudstree Expression, sentiment, truth to nature, are essential: but all those are not enough. I never care to look at a picture again, if it be ill composed; and if well composed I can hardly leave off looking at it. John Ruskin essentialsexpressionlooks In painting as in eloquence, the greater your strength, the quieter your manner. John Ruskin eloquencepaintinggreater I am far more provoked at being thought foolish by foolish people, than pleased at being thought sensible by sensible people; and the average proportion of the numbers of each is not to my advantage. John Ruskin numbersaveragepeople And with respect to the mode in which these general principles affect the secure possession of property, so far am I from invalidating such security, that the whole gist of these papers will be found ultimately to aim at an extension in its range; and whereas it has long been known and declared that the poor have no right to the property of the rich, I wish it also to be known and declared that the rich have no right to the property of the poor. John Ruskin principleswishlong
