Therefore to say a thing faintly, because saying it strongly sounds odd or obscure or unattractive for some reason, to 'careless readers,' does appear to me bad policy as well as bad art.

Is not art, like virtue, to be practised for its own sake first?
If we sacrifice our ideal to notions of immediate utility, would it not be better for us to write tracts at once?
Of course any remark of yours is to be received and considered with all reverence.

Only, be sure you please to say, 'Do it differently to satisfy _me_, John Ruskin,' and not to satisfy Mr., Mrs., and the Miss and Master Smith of the great majority.

The great majority is the majority of the little, you know, who will come over to you if you don't think of them--and if they don't, you will bear it.
Am I pert, do you think?
No, _don't_ think it.

And the truth is, though you may not see that, that your praise made me feel very humble.