"Do not think of your faults, still less of other's faults; look for what is good and strong, and try to imitate it. Your faults will drop off, like dead leaves, when their time comes"

John Ruskin’s guidance encourages a radical shift away from the human tendency to dwell on imperfections, whether our own or those of others. Instead of fixating on personal failures or criticizing those around us, Ruskin directs our attention toward the virtues and strengths that exist within ourselves and within others. By suggesting we “look for what is good and strong,” he advocates a positive focus, an outlook that seeks inspiration and models worthy of emulation.

The instruction to “try to imitate it” points toward self-improvement not through self-criticism, but through aspiration. Rather than endlessly analyzing shortcomings, Ruskin’s philosophy rests on the idea that growth is most powerful when fueled by admiration and the pursuit of virtue. Observing courage, kindness, wisdom, or resilience in someone else can ignite these same qualities within us. By modeling ourselves on what we recognize as strong and good, we foster an environment, both internal and external, where positive qualities are nourished and allowed to flourish.

Perhaps most strikingly, Ruskin’s analogy of faults falling away “like dead leaves, when their time comes” offers a vision of transformation that is natural and almost effortless. The implication is that personal flaws do not need to be forcibly eradicated through guilt or harsh self-scrutiny. Instead, by cultivating good habits and focusing on admirable qualities, the negative aspects of character become less significant and eventually fade. Just as dead leaves naturally detach from a tree when their purpose is complete, our faults will dissipate when overwhelmed by growth and positivity.

Such wisdom invites an approach to life suffused with patience and hope. Progress, according to Ruskin, stems not from wrestling with our darkness but from nourishing our light, trusting that as we grow in strength and goodness, any weaknesses will simply wither away in their own time.