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

 

Pure Adventure Weekend

Plans are coming together for the Spirit of Adventure Foundation's Pure Adventure weekend. This will be held in and around Brantwood in Coniston, Cumbria, UK the weekend 9th -10th March 2013. From Brantwood on the shores of lake Coniston there are fine views towards the Lakeland Fells

The view from Brantwood House

Brantwood is the former home of John Ruskin. Ruskin (1819 - 1900) was a Victorian writer, thinker, artist, art critic, socialist and philanthropist.

Ruskin as a young man

The venue is well chosen because Ruskin and The Spirit of Adventure Foundation share common ground in terms of their beliefs about wilderness and wild places.

'Every increased possession loads us with new weariness'

Booking essential - Places are limited and will be on a first come first serve basis

Click here for Booking Form

PRICES:
Saturday 9th March - £20 pp incl. simple evening meal
Sunday 10th March - £20 adults. £10 child (16yr and under). Family (Up to 2 Adult & 3 Child) = £50

Saturday 9th March:
10.30am            Introduction - Connecting with Nature - Outdoor practical
                          (activity optional)
PROGRAMME
1.30pm             Registration. Tea and coffee
2.00pm             Introduction to Brantwood - Howard Hull Director of Brantwood Trust
2.10pm            The Spirit of Adventure Foundation & Concept of Pure Adventure - Colin Mortlock
2.40pm            Pure Adventure - taking theory into practice - Richard Little / Andy Ligema
3.10pm            Tea and coffee break
3.25pm            Examples of Pure Adventure
3.35pm            Workshops -
                        e.g.      Technology in wild Nature - friend or menace?
                                    The Search for Truth -‘Truth is a Pathless Land’ (Krishnamurti)
                                    Family Expeditions - ideas and inspiration
                                    Environmental Awareness
                                    The Journey Inwards
                                    Virtues, Vices and Wisdoms
4.20pm            Report back from workshops
5.00pm            Tea and coffee break
5.15pm            Solo Experiences and self reliant journeys for young people - Colin Mortlock
6.00pm            AGM - The Spirit of Adventure Foundation
6.30pm            Dinner
8pm                 Steve Scott - Kendal Mountain Festival Director's selection of best films

Sunday:
10am               Meet
10.30               Pure Adventure Courses - practical experience in the outdoors
                        in partnership with Impact International and Real Adventure
4pm                 Final Remarks ‘Uniting the Fragments.’      
4.30pm            End