Endurance is nobler than strength, and patience than beauty.
John RuskinRead
Life is a magic vase filled to the brim, so made that you cannot dip from it nor draw from it; but it overflows into the hand that drops treasures into it. Drop in malice and it overflows hate; drop in charity and it overflows love.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Life gives back what you put into it, whether positive or negative.
This quote by John Ruskin emphasizes the idea that life is like a vessel that responds to the intentions and actions of individuals. If one contributes negativity, such as malice, the outcomes will be harmful, whereas contributions of kindness and charity yield love and positivity. It reveals the power of intention in shaping experiences and relationships in life.
Themes
LifeVaseOverflowMaliceCharityLoveHate
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about community service.
More from John Ruskin
All quotes →In health of mind and body, men should see with their own eyes, hear and speak without trumpets, walk on their feet, not on wheels, and work and war with their arms, not with engine-beams, nor rifles warranted to kill twenty men at a shot before you can see them.
John RuskinRead
You talk of the scythe of Time, and the tooth of Time: I tell you, Time is scytheless and toothless; it is we who gnaw like the worm - we who smite like the scythe. It is ourselves who abolish - ourselves who consume: we are the mildew, and the flame.
John RuskinRead
To be able to ask a question clearly is two-thirds of the way to getting it answered.
John RuskinRead
See that your children be taught, not only the labors of the earth, but the loveliness of it.
John RuskinRead
A little thought and a little kindness are often worth more than a great deal of money.
John RuskinRead
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