John Ruskin Quotes

The great secret of education is to direct vanity to proper objects.

To the one, a little natural moderation and quietness of temper may be sufficient to conduct us: but to the other, we can only attain by much discipline and slow advances; and when we think we have made great way, we shall often find reason to confess in the hour of trial, that we had greatly, far too greatly, over-rated our progress.

I'm a big believer in growth. Life is not about achievement, it's about learning and growth, and developing qualities like compassion, patience, perseverance, love, and joy, and so forth. And so if that is the case, then I think our goals should include something which stretches us.

I think personal growth has much to do with acting ability.

In the end, it's a mental maturity to let your best come out.

Influential people have a profound impact on everyone they encounter. Yet, they achieve this only because they exert so much influence inside, on themselves.

If you want to be the best salesperson, first you must be the best person.

I think I have more patience now than I did in the past.

I believe that the plight of life and all existence is to master one's self, you know, one day at a time.

I don't think evil people or negative people are inherently interesting all the time. People who are good people getting better at being themselves - to me, that's something that's really interesting to watch.

You cannot lead others until you have first learned to lead yourself.

Imagine for yourself a character, a model personality, whose example you determine to follow, in private as well as in public.

Character is a journey, not a destination.

Practice self-awareness, self-evaluation, and self-improvement. If we are aware that our manners - language, behavior, and actions - are measured against our values and principles, we are able to more easily embody the philosophy, leadership is a matter of how to be, not how to do.

It is hard to improve someone as a player, but is easier to help someone become a better person.

It's very difficult to regulate yourself, and if you learn to do that, well, it starts to spill over.

I know how strong I am mentally, how I work on myself.

Character building is one of my favourite things to do.

All your scholarship, all your study of Shakespeare and Wordsworth would be in vain, if at the same time you do not build your character, and attain mastery over your thoughts and actions.

I believe that persistent effort, supported by a character-based foundation, will enable you to get more of the things money will buy and all of the things money won't buy.

Assume a virtue, if you have it not. That monster, custom, who all sense doth eat; Of habits devil, is angel yet in this.

You cannot build up a character in a solitude; you need a formed character to stand a solitude.

Meg, I give you your faults." "My faults!" Meg cried. "Your faults." "But I'm always trying to get rid of my faults!" "Yes," Mrs. Whatsit said. "However, I think you'll find they'll come in very handy on Camazotz.

Force yourself to be humble, until it becomes second nature. Then it will be an unconscious activity.

Never stop working on your statue until the divine glory of virtue shines out on you, until you see self-mastery enthroned upon its holy seat.