WIST

There is hardly anything in the world that some man can’t make a little worse and sell a little cheaper, and the people who consider price only are this man’s lawful prey.

John Ruskin (1819-1900) English art critic and writer
(Attributed)
Unsourced in any of Ruskin's works.

When a man is wrapped up in himself, he makes a pretty small package.

John Ruskin (1819-1900) English art critic and writer
(Attributed)

The infinity of God is not mysterious, it is only unfathomable; not concealed, but incomprehensible; it is a clear infinity, the darkness of the pure unsearchable sea.

John Ruskin (1819-1900) English art critic and writer
Modern Painters (1843-1860), vol II, part iii, ch. 5 (1846)

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

John Ruskin (1819-1900) English art critic and writer
Modern Painters, vol. IV, pt. V, ch. III, sec. 22 (1856)

The greatest efforts of the race have always been traceable to the love of praise, as its greatest catastrophes to the love of pleasure.

John Ruskin (1819-1900) English art critic and writer
Sesame and Lilies, lecture I: “Of Kings’ Treasures,” sec. 3 (1864-1865)

Great nations write their autobiographies in three manuscripts, the book of their deeds, the book of their words and the book of their art. Not one of these books can be understood unless we read the two others, but of the three the only trustworthy one is the last.

John Ruskin (1819-1900) English art critic and writer
St. Mark’s Rest: The History of Venice, Preface (1885)

Do justice to your brother (you can do that, whether you love him or not), and you will come to love him. But do injustice to him because you don’t love him, and you will come to hate him.

John Ruskin (1819-1900) English art critic and writer
The Crown of the Wild Olive, “Work” (1866)

What we think, or what we know, or what we believe is, in the end, of little consequence. The only consequence is what we do.

John Ruskin (1819-1900) English art critic and writer
The Crown of Wild Olive, lecture IV “The Future of England,” sec. 151 (1866)

Do not think of your faults, still less of others’ 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 (1819-1900) English art critic and writer
The Ethics of the Dust, Lecture 5 (1875)
Full text.

God has lent us the earth for our life; it is a great entail. It belongs as much to those who are to come after us, and whose names are already written in the book of creation, as to us; and we have no right, by anything that we do or neglect, to involve them in unnecessary penalties, or deprive them of benefits which it was in our power to bequeath.

John Ruskin (1819-1900) English art critic and writer
The Seven Lamps of Architecture, “The Lamp of Memory,” ch. 6, sec. 9 (1907)

Whatever we build, let us think we build for ever.

John Ruskin (1819-1900) English art critic and writer
The Seven Lamps of Architecture, ch. 6 “The Lamp of Memory” (1849)

The world is full of vulgar Purists, who bring discredit on all selection by the silliness of their choice; and this the more, because the very becoming a Purist is commonly indicative of some slight degree of weakness, readiness to be offended, or narrowness of understanding of the ends of things.

John Ruskin (1819-1900) English art critic and writer
The Stones of Venice, vol. II, ch. 6, sec. 62 (1853)

Your honesty is not to be based either on religion or policy. Both your religion and policy must be based on it. Your honesty must be based, as the sun is, in vacant heaven; poised, as the lights in the firmament, which have rule over the day and over the night.

John Ruskin (1819-1900) English art critic and writer
Time and Tide, Letter VIII (1867)

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 (1819-1900) English art critic and writer
Unto This Last Essay III: “Qui Judicatis Terram,” sec. 54 (1860)