Some slaves are scoured to their work by whips, others by their restlessness and ambition.
John RuskinLet every dawn of morning be to you as the beginning of life, and every setting sun be to you as its close: โ then let every one of these short lives leave its sure record of some kindly thing done for others โ some goodly strength or knowledge gained for yourselves.
John RuskinAlong the iron veins that traverse the frame of our country, beat and flow the fiery pulses of its exertion, hotter and faster every hour. All vitality is concentrated through those throbbing arteries into the central cities; the country is passed over like a green sea by narrow bridges, and we are thrown back in continually closer crowds on the city gates.
John RuskinGreatness is not a teachable nor gainable thing, but the expression of the mind of a God-made great man.
John RuskinIt is not the weariness of mortality, but the strength of divinity, which we have to recognize in all mighty things; and that is just what we now never recognize, but think that we are to do great things by help of iron bars and perspiration. Alas! we shall do nothing that way but lose some pounds of our own weight.
John RuskinTo be taught to readโwhat is the use of that, if you know not whether what you read is false or true? To be taught to write or to speakโbut what is the use of speaking, if you have nothing to say? To be taught to thinkโnay, what is the use of being able to think, if you have nothing to think of? But to be taught to see is to gain word and thought at once, and both true.
John Ruskin