John Ruskin - Modern Painters (1843)

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Mountains are the beginning and the end of all natural scenery.

John Ruskin
There are, indeed, two forms of discontent: one laborious, the other indolent and complaining. We respect the man of laborious desire, but let us not suppose that his restlessness is peace, or his ambition meekness. It is because of the special connection of meekness with contentment that it is promised that the meek shall "inherit the earth." Neither covetous men, nor the Grave, can inherit anything; they can but consume. Only contentment can possess.

John Ruskin
All that we call ideal in Greek or any other art, because to us it is false and visionary, was, to the makers of it, true and existent.

John Ruskin
Expression, sentiment, truth to nature, are essential: but all those are not enough. I never care to look at a picture again, if it be ill composed; and if well composed I can hardly leave off looking at it.

John Ruskin
It is not possible to find a landscape, which if painted precisely as it is, will not make an impressive picture. No one knows, till he has tried, what strange beauty and subtle composition is prepared to his hand by Nature.

John Ruskin
He is the greatest artist who has embodied, in the sum of his works, the greatest number of the greatest ideas.

John Ruskin
Mountains are to the rest of the body of the earth, what violent muscular action is to the body of man. The muscles and tendons of its anatomy are, in the mountain, brought out with force and convulsive energy, full of expression, passion, and strength.

John Ruskin
All great art is the expression of man's delight in God's work, not his own.

John Ruskin
In the range of inorganic nature. I doubt if any object can be found more perfectly beautiful than a fresh, deep snowdrift, seen under warm light.

John Ruskin
Nature is always mysterious and secret in her use of means; and art is always likest her when it is most inexplicable.

John Ruskin
He who can take no interest in what is small will take false interest in what is great.

John Ruskin
To know anything well involves a profound sensation of ignorance.

John Ruskin