Morris on Art and Design

I picked up a great book at the library on Friday. Morris: On Art and Design, edited by Christine Poulson. It's a great little collection of William Morris' letters and essays. If you are at all interested in the details of the work done by Morris and Company, the book has tons of info on the process of natural dyeing, glass making and a number of other crafts.

I found this quote from Ruskin's Unto This Last (1860) particularly inspiring:

"THERE IS NO WEALTH BUT LIFE. Life, including all its powers of love, of joy, and of admiration. That country is the richest which nourishes the greatest number of noble and happy human beings; that man is richest who, having perfected the functions of his own life to the utmost, has also the widest helpful influence, both personal, and by means of his possessions, over the lives of others. "

Well, I'm not so sure about "widest influence" bit--personally I think a rich influence on the lives of a few people can be just as vital--but I love the overall sentiment.