The first duty of government is to see that people have food, fuel, and clothes. The second, that they have means of moral and intellectual education.

Quote by John Ruskin

Topics: John Ruskin Quotes

To give alms is nothing unless you give thought also.

To give alms is nothing unless you give thought also.

Imaginary evils soon become real one by indulging our reflections on them.

Imaginary evils soon become real one by indulging our reflections on them.

An architect should live as little in cities as a painter. Send him to our...

An architect should live as little in cities as a painter. Send him to our...

Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you.

Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you.

God saith, 'The person I hold as beloved, I am his hearing by which he...

God saith, 'The person I hold as beloved, I am his hearing by which he...

Modern education has devoted itself to the teaching of impudence, and then we complain that...

Modern education has devoted itself to the teaching of impudence, and then we complain that...

The higher a man stands, the more the word vulgar becomes unintelligible to him.

The higher a man stands, the more the word vulgar becomes unintelligible to him.

That thirst (for applause) if the last infirmity of noble minds, is also the first...

That thirst (for applause) if the last infirmity of noble minds, is also the first...

Men are more evanescent than pictures, yet one sorrows for lost friends, and pictures are...

Men are more evanescent than pictures, yet one sorrows for lost friends, and pictures are...

An unimaginative person can neither be reverent or kind.

An unimaginative person can neither be reverent or kind.

The first condition of education is being able to put someone to wholesome and meaningful...

The first condition of education is being able to put someone to wholesome and meaningful...

God alone can finish

God alone can finish

To banish imperfection is to destroy expression, to check exertion, to paralyze vitality.

To banish imperfection is to destroy expression, to check exertion, to paralyze vitality.

Nearly all the powerful people of this age are unbelievers, the best of them in...

Nearly all the powerful people of this age are unbelievers, the best of them in...

It is not how much one makes but to what purpose one spends.

It is not how much one makes but to what purpose one spends.

The highest reward for a person's toil is not what they get for it, but...

The highest reward for a person's toil is not what they get for it, but...

Modern travelling is not travelling at all; it is merely being sent to a place,...

Modern travelling is not travelling at all; it is merely being sent to a place,...

To use books rightly, is to go to them for help; to appeal to them...

To use books rightly, is to go to them for help; to appeal to them...

In books, the proportion of exceptional to commonplace people is very high; in reality, very...

In books, the proportion of exceptional to commonplace people is very high; in reality, very...

Books are the blessed chloroform of the mind.

Books are the blessed chloroform of the mind.