No person who is not a great sculptor or painter can be an architect. If he is not a sculptor or painter, he can only be a builder. – John Ruskin
The first condition of education is being able to put someone to wholesome and meaningful work. – John Ruskin
You might sooner get lightning out of incense smoke than true action or passion out of your modern English religion. – John Ruskin
It is in this power of saying everything, and yet saying nothing too plainly, that the perfection of art consists. – John Ruskin
Lets face it – think of Africa, and the first images that come to mind are of war, poverty, famine and flies. How many of us really know anything at all about the truly great ancient African civilizations, which in their day, were just as splendid and glorious as any on the face of the earth? – Henry Louis Gates
In winter there is no heat, no light, no noon, evening touches morning, there is fog, and mist, the window is frosted, and you cannot see clearly. The sky is but the mouth of a cave. The whole day is the cave…. Frightful season! Winter changes into stone the water of heaven and the heart of man. – Victor Hugo, Les Misérables: Fantine, translated from French by Chas. E. Wi