from
THE DWELLING-PLACE (1977)

(1977)

IN MEMORY OF MY FATHER

A man’s religion is the form of mental rest, or dwelling-place, which, partly, his fathers have gained or built for him, and partly, by due reverence to former custom, he has built for himself; consisting of whatever imperfect knowledge may have been granted, up to that time, in the land of his birth, of the Divine character, presence, and dealings; modified by the circumstances of surrounding life.

JOHN RUSKIN, Val d’Arno