Project Gutenberg 1998-04-01 Public domain in the USA. 868 Ruskin, John 1819 1900 Ruskin, J. (John) Sesame and Lilies Transcribed from the 1894 George Allen edition by David Price "Sesame and Lilies" by John Ruskin is a philosophical and literary work composed in the mid-19th century. The book is structured as a series of lectures that addresses topics related to education, the value of literature, and the moral responsibilities of individuals, particularly focusing on women and their roles in society. It serves as a critique of contemporary cultural and educational standards, urging readers to pursue valuable knowledge and leading a life of purpose. At the start of the text, Ruskin introduces the core themes of the first lecture, "Sesame," wherein he reflects on the importance of figurative kings' treasuries as a metaphor for the treasures found in books. He stresses that reading should not only be about gaining knowledge but also about seeking truths and fostering moral character. He critiques society's focus on social status and material advancement, urging the necessity of possessing and cultivating a meaningful library filled with beneficial literature. The opening reveals Ruskin's intention to encourage young readers, particularly women, to seek a purposeful, thoughtful existence while promoting ideas of self-improvement and social responsibility. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Reading ease score: 54.5 (10th to 12th grade). Somewhat difficult to read. en Conduct of life Social problems Women Books and reading -- Great Britain PR Text Category: Essays, Letters & Speeches Category: British Literature Category: Philosophy & Ethics 314843 2025-08-01T09:14:09.744168 text/html 315759 2019-08-05T16:03:01 text/html 152381 2019-08-05T16:06:26 text/html application/zip 159521 2025-08-01T09:14:13.623109 application/epub+zip 161710 2025-08-01T09:14:10.457107 application/epub+zip 160962 2025-08-01T09:14:10.048127 application/epub+zip 248743 2025-08-01T09:14:16.310104 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 228104 2025-08-01T09:14:13.175081 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 227529 2022-09-01T10:20:45.270615 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 297834 2025-08-01T09:14:09.490161 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 297977 2019-08-05T16:02:53 text/plain; charset=utf-8 116209 2019-08-05T16:06:26 text/plain; charset=utf-8 application/zip 19236 2025-08-01T09:14:16.442101 application/rdf+xml 15251 2025-08-01T09:14:10.136125 image/jpeg 3129 2025-08-01T09:14:10.094099 image/jpeg 153817 2025-08-01T09:14:09.773150 application/octet-stream application/zip Archives containing the RDF files for *all* our books can be downloaded at https://book.klll.cc/wiki/Gutenberg:Feeds#The_Complete_Project_Gutenberg_Catalog en.wikipedia