Quotes from John Ruskin

The art of nations is to be accumulative, just as science and history are; the work of living men not superseding, but building itself upon the work of the past.

It is far better to give work that is above a person, than to educate the person to be above their work.

You may sell your work, but not your soul.

In order that a man may be happy, it is necessary that he should not only be capable of his work, but a good judge of his work.

Every hue throughout your work is altered by every touch you add in other places.

If you do not wish for His kingdom do not pray for it. But if you do you must do more than pray for it, you must work for it.

Work first, and then rest.

God intends no man to live in this world without working, but it seems to me no less evident that He intends every man to be happy in his work.

It is only by labour that thought can be made healthy, and only by thought that labour can be made happy, and the two cannot be separated with impunity.

Success by the laws of competition signifies a victory over others by obtaining the direction and profits of their work. This is the real source of all great riches.

All great art is the expression of man's delight in God's work, not his own.

When men are rightly occupied, their amusement grows out of their work.

There is rough work to be done, and rough men must do it; there is gentle work to be done, and gentlemen must do it.

Of human work none but what is bad can be perfect in its own bad way.

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.

To do your own work well, whether it be for life or death.

Work first and then rest. Work first, and then gaze, but do not use golden ploughshares, nor bind ledgers in enamel.

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

You can only possess beauty through understanding it.

The noble grotesque involves the true appreciation of beauty.

Nothing can be beautiful which is not true.

The best work never was and never will be done for money.

Education is the leading of human souls to what is best, and making what is best out of them.

The artist's business is to feel, although he may think a little sometimes... when he has nothing better to do.