Beauty deprived of its proper foils and adjuncts ceases to be enjoyed as beauty, just as light deprived of all shadows ceases to be enjoyed as light. - John Ruskin

Taste is the only morality. Tell me what you like and I'll tell you what you are.

And besides; the problem of land, at its worst, is a bye one; distribute the earth as you will, the principal question remains inexorable, —Who is to dig it? Which of us, in brief word, is to do the hard and dirty work for the rest, and for what pay?

Nothing is ever done beautifully which is done
in rival ship: or nobly, which is done in pride.