John RuskinJohn Ruskin, (1819-1900) British author, artist, social critic

John Ruskin Quote

“Without seeking, truth cannot be known at all. It can neither be declared from pulpits, nor set down in articles, nor in any wise prepared and sold in packages ready for use. Truth must be ground for every man by itself out of it such, with such help as he can get, indeed, but not without stern labor of his own.”

John RuskinJohn Ruskin
~ John Ruskin


Ratings and Comments


E Archer, NYC

From our very first day, we have been awakening to the world in which we have been born. Realizing the Truth is a life-long process -- most of which is self-discovery. Indeed it is hard work, but forever rewarding. It is the difference between living in a fantasy world and the real world -- whatever it may actually be.

Trenton Stokes, Simpsonville

How can we realize Truth if there is not a "Truth" giver? What standard are you using to determine what is true? How can I measure an inch if I do not know what an inch is?

Lamb, Rochester, NY

Seeking the Truth starts with telling the truth -- that is the hard part. Sometimes the most honest thing one can say is "I don't know."

JDoN, Canada

Like, if you want the truth you will have to dig for it - and dig deep and often. A pity so few persons realize this hard fact of life -- they seem to think that Truth only comes from the 'talking heads' on TV! What fools most mortals be!

E Archer, NYC
  • Reply
E Archer, NYC JDoN, Canada 12/27/22

For the most part, it is propaganda that is broadcasted every night by the talking heads, not 'truth' ... 

Once you have managed to cross that hurdle, you can easily see that the 'news' is to condition the people to accept the unlawful acts of their government as 'legal.'  It is to instill fear in the government's opposition and tranquilize any effort to peek at the man behind the curtain.

"Russia, Russia, Russia" every day for 6 years  now we know what they were planning all along.

Arjun, Rishikesh, India

Seeking the Truth would mean having to read multiple versions of numerous religious, scientific, and historical texts, not just one, obviously. The crux of what Ruskin is saying is that in the end, it is up to each individual to take responsibility for their own evaluation and realizations about the very miraculous world we live in. In most cases, the Truth is something that exposes our own self-deceptions, and without being vigorously sought, we will continue to live in discord with the 'way things are' whether we like it or not.

Anonymous
  • Reply
Anonymous    11/8/07

Here's a little truth: http://www.brasschecktv.com/page/199.html

RobertSRQ

Archer, Trenton, Lamb, JDoN, and Arjun, Excellent. A student wanted to know the secret of truth and he was told that a Guru who lived atop a mountain could tell him. So, the student took many days to find the mountain and many more to climb to the top. Once there he find the Guru and asked 'Master, please tell me the secret of Truth'. The Guru said 'go back and in five years visit me again and ask the same question'. Well, to cut a long story short, the student did this for many years and finally on his 7th visit to the Guru the student said in delight that he find the secret of truth, the Guru then said 'Son, when you first visited me you knew then the secret of Truth'.

Mike, Norwalk

It all depends on how you define truth. There is that which is inherent in all organics, life, etc (an internal reality); and, there is the actual state of things (external perceptions), there is a legal form that associates to accuracy (parts of a whole - conformable to facts), etc. Seeking for truth is usually an expanding awareness of a foundation spark.

E Archer, NYC
  • Reply
E Archer, NYC Mike, Norwalk 12/27/22

The problem is 'defining' truth rather than letting the ever-present truth be revealed.  The truth is whatever is true, whether anyone knows it or not.

Do we need to seek 'reality'?  No, we need only correctly perceive what is so.

For the most part we are all projecting our ideas of the world upon the world.  We see what we believe we see, not necessarily what is so.

The truth-seeker must in the end be a truth-teller if he/she is ever to know the truth about anything.  As long as we veil what we don't want to see, we will continue to be self-deluded.

The revelation of the truth that has been hidden for so long, is indeed liberating  but only if we stop the practice of lying to ourselves and thus others. ;-)

Ronw13, Yachats Or

Ruskin fell into the trap of faith undermined, Hypocrisy within the church at large. Turning him to empiricism, and doubt. Truth is Parenthetical and well defined. And can be seen clearly ! Plumb, Square, and well Divided. Very well documented, No doubt ! And can be taught very clearly from the Pulpit !! Liberty and Freedom from Oppression and the doctrines there by, being withheld from the people for greed sake !!!! If he were of the household of Liberty he would never have fallen ! Considering where he grew up !

jim k, Austin

It cannot be declared from pulpits but many people think it can. They need to think again.

jim k, Austin

"It" above means truth.

Fredrick William Sillik, Anytown

Can the truth ever be known be an arrangement that claims, "never let them see you sweat."

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