It is the glistening and softly spoken lie; the amiable fallacy; the patriotic lie of the historian, the provident lie of the politician, the zealous lie of the partisan, the merciful lie of the friend, and the careless lie of each man to himself, that cast that black mystery over humanity, through which we thank any man who pierces, as we would thank one who dug a well in a desert.

— John Ruskin The Seven Lamps of Architecture (1849)

More quotes by John Ruskin

The Stones of Venice (1853)

Modern Painters (1843)

Lectures on Art (1870)

The Seven Lamps of Architecture (1849)

The Stones of Venice (1853)

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