“The work of science is to substitute facts for appearances, and demonstrations for impressions.”

— John Ruskin, The Stones of Venice (1853)

About John Ruskin

1819 – 1900

English art critic and social thinker.

“Life without industry is guilt, and industry without art is brutality.”

“God has lent us the earth for our life; it is a great entail.”

“Labour without joy is base. Labour without sorrow is base. Sorrow without labour is base. Joy without labour is base.”

“What a piece of work is a man! How noble in reason, how infinite in faculty!”

“We will walk on our own feet; we will work with our own hands; we will speak our own minds.”

“Thunder is good, thunder is impressive; but it is lightning that does the work.”

“Hard work is simply the refuge of people who have nothing whatever to do.”

“Why does this magnificent applied science which saves work and makes life easier bring us so little happiness?”

“I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears, and sweat.”