[For men] to feel their souls withering within them, unthanked, to find their whole being sunk into an unrecognized abyss, to be counted off into a heap of mechanism numbered with its wheels, and weighed with its hammer strokes - this, nature bade not, - this, God blesses not, - this, humanity for no long time is able to endure.
John RuskinAs unity demanded for its expression what at first might have seemed its opposite--variety; so repose demands for its expression the implied capability of its opposite--energy. It is the most unfailing test of beauty; nothing can be ignoble that possesses it, nothing right that has it not.
John RuskinMilton saw not, and Beethoven heard not, but the sense of beauty was upon them, and they fain must speak.
John RuskinBread of flour is good; but there is bread, sweet as honey, if we would eat it, in a good book.
John Ruskin