Top 10 John Ruskin Quotes

The Spirit of Adventure Foundation 'Pure Adventure' weekend recently took place at Brantwood House. Brantwood is spectacularly located overlooking Coniston Water with views towards Coniston village and the high fells above including The Old Man of Coniston. 

The View Across Coniston Water From Brantwood.

John Ruskin (1819 - 1900) lived at Brantwood House for the last 27 years of his life. Ruskin was a writer, painter, art critic, social reformer and philanthropist. His writing was hugely influential being an inspiration for the first Trade Union leaders, the Arts and Crafts Movement, the founding of the National Trust, and the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings. His ideas led to improvements in working conditions, housing, health care and the quality of the natural environment.

Ghandi read Ruskin's 'Unto This Last' and it changed his life.  

 " I translated it later into Gujarati entitling it ‘Sarvodaya’ (the welfare of all). I believe that I discovered some of my deepest convictions reflected in this great book of Ruskin and that is why it so captured me and made me transform my life.”
                                 - Mahatma Gandhi 

Many of Ruskin's thoughts on the problems of the Victorian era - like the negative empact of unbridled capitalism, remain current today.

Ruskin Self Portrait

 

1. Modern travelling is not travelling at all; it is merely being sent to a place, and very little different from becoming a parcel. 

2. The first test of a truly great man is in his humility.            

3. A little thought and a little kindness are often worth more than a great deal of money. 

4. Every increased possession loads us with new weariness.                     

5. When love and skill work together, expect a masterpiece. 

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

7. Let us reform our schools, and we shall find little reform needed in our prisons. 

8. Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather. 

9. There is no wealth but life.

10. Do not think of your faults, still less of other's 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. 

11. Quality is never an accident. It is always the result of intelligent effort.

Brantwood House 

Ruskin Library