John Ruskin Quotes

The truly good and wise man will bear all kinds of fortune in a seemly way, and will always act in the noblest manner that the circumstances allow.

Whatever any one does or says, I must be good; just as if the emerald were always saying this: "Whatever any one does or says, I must still be emerald, and keep my color.

A man should be upright, not be kept upright.

Even in decline, a virtuous man increases the beauty of his behavior. A burning stick, though turned to the ground, has its flame drawn upwards.

The superior man does not, even for the space of a single meal, act contrary to virtue. In moments of haste, he cleaves to it. In seasons of danger, he cleaves to it.

Respect for self is the beginning of cultivating virtue in men and women.

The superior man... does not set his mind either for or against anything, he will pursue whatever is right. The superior man thinks of virtue, the common man of comfort.

We should make virtue our master, not our servant.

You don't luck into integrity. You work at it.

Virtue shuns ease as a companion. It demands a rough and thorny path.

Do well and right and let the world sink.

Good posture can be successfully acquired only when the entire mechanism of the body is under perfect control.

It is not enough to recognize what is right and true. One must control the impulse to do what is wrong and easy.

The most virtuous are those who content themselves with being virtuous without seeking to appear so.

Virtue is an inner strength. It expands your nature.

A man has honor if he holds himself to an ideal of conduct though it is inconvenient, unprofitable, or dangerous to do so.

Humility is the foundation of all the other virtues hence, in the soul in which this virtue does not exist there cannot be any other virtue except in mere appearance.

It is his restraint that is honorable to a person, not their liberty.

When you rely on incentives, you undermine virtues. Then when you discover that you actually need people who want to do the right thing, those people don't exist because you've crushed anyone's desire to do the right thing with all these incentives.

The man of virtuous soul commands not, nor obeys.

Wise people, even though all laws were abolished, would still lead the same life.

If I wanted to do wrong, I could not.

He who is honest in his dealings simply because of the social prestige and position it secures will never develop his higher nature, but will always live along the lower lines.

Good actions ennoble us, and we are the sons of our deeds.

Unless some misfortune has made it impossible, everyone can have good posture.