--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The best graphics are about the useful…" description: "\"The best graphics are about the useful and important, about life and death, about the universe. Beautiful graphics do not traffic with the trivial.\" — ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b09/edward-tufte-10613_beautiful_the-best-graphics-are-about-the-useful-a_2866432.jpg" --- # The best graphics are about the useful and important… ![“The best graphics are about the useful and important, about life and death, about the universe. Beautiful graphics do not traffic with the trivial.” quote by Edward Tufte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b09/edward-tufte-10613_beautiful_the-best-graphics-are-about-the-useful-a_2866432.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b09/edward-tufte-10613_beautiful_the-best-graphics-are-about-the-useful-a_2866432.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b09/edward-tufte-10613_beautiful_the-best-graphics-are-about-the-useful-a_2866432.jpg) > “The best graphics are about the useful and important, about life and death, about the universe. Beautiful graphics do not traffic with the trivial.” [Edward Tufte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-tufte/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Effective graphics should convey essential, profound ideas rather than trivial details. **In simple terms:** Graphics should highlight important, deep topics. Key Takeaway Prioritize meaning over visual flair. Themes design communication clarity Mood thoughtful analytical Type educational inspirational When to use this quote - presentations - educational materials - data dashboards - public signage Key Concepts visual hierarchy information design cognitive load Questions to Reflect On - How can you ensure a graphic’s purpose is clear? - What trivial is essential to include? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on aesthetics can obscure core message. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beautiful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beautiful/) [Beautiful Graphics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beautiful-graphics-3897288/) [Beauty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beauty/) [Best Graphics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-graphics-3897286/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Graphics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/graphics/) [Graphics Useful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/graphics-useful-3897287/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life and death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-and-death/) [Traffic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/traffic/) [Universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe/) [Universe Beautiful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe-beautiful-271163/) ## Related quotes > [Public discussions are part of what it takes to make changes in the trillions of graphics published each year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-tufte/public-discussions-are-part-of-what-it-takes-to-make-changes-in-the/) [Edward Tufte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-tufte/) > [I have deep faith that the principle of the universe will be beautiful and simple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/i-have-deep-faith-that-the-principle-of-the-universe-will-be/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [“The world's most beautiful pearls are inside your heart. The universe's most beautiful diamonds are inside your soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/the-world-s-most-beautiful-pearls-are-inside-your-heart-the-universe/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [“When I look at our whole Earth, the galaxy and even the universe, full of beautiful constellations and Earth-like planets, I can't stop questioning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sacredfire/when-i-look-at-our-whole-earth-the-galaxy-and-even-the-universe-full/) [Robin Sacredfire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sacredfire/) > [“Earth may appear insignificant in the whole Universe, but it is the most beautiful and significant planet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sukant-ratnakar/earth-may-appear-insignificant-in-the-whole-universe-but-it-is-the/) [Sukant Ratnakar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sukant-ratnakar/) > [Imagine the universe beautiful and just and perfect. 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Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-a-anderson/) > [There are only two type of girl in this universe one is beautiful girl and other is jaw-dropping beautiful girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/punkinhead-abhishek/there-are-only-two-type-of-girl-in-this-universe-one-is-beautiful/) [Punkinhead Abhishek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/punkinhead-abhishek/) > [The only thing that makes sense is if the universe is beautiful and simple and elegant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-garrett-lisi/the-only-thing-that-makes-sense-is-if-the-universe-is-beautiful-and/) [Antony Garrett Lisi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-garrett-lisi/) > [I'm not crying about anything or anyone in particular. The life I live I created for myself, and I wouldn't want it any different.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-not-crying-about-anything-or-anyone-in-particular-the-life-i-live/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“At its most basic level, the universe is beautiful.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-aguirre/at-its-most-basic-level-the-universe-is-beautiful/) [Ann Aguirre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-aguirre/) > [“The universe is not more beautiful than your pure thoughts-enlighten the world around you, the rest is complementary...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vedang-sati/the-universe-is-not-more-beautiful-than-your-pure-thoughts-enlighten/) [Vedang Sati](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vedang-sati/) > [“the universe is indeed a beautiful place. If you doubt me, go check for yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/the-universe-is-indeed-a-beautiful-place-if-you-doubt-me-go-check-for/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [Is there anything in the universe more beautiful and protective than the simple complexity of a spider's web?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-b-white/is-there-anything-in-the-universe-more-beautiful-and-protective-than/) [E. B. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-b-white/) > [A man-made thing that produces pleasure (and criticism) by somehow taping into the order of the universe is beautiful. Making beautiful things makes our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tucker-viemeister/a-man-made-thing-that-produces-pleasure-and-criticism-by-somehow/) [Tucker Viemeister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tucker-viemeister/) ## More by Edward Tufte > [If you’re told what to look for, you can’t see anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-tufte/if-you-re-told-what-to-look-for-you-can-t-see-anything-else/) [Edward Tufte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-tufte/) > [“Comparisons must be enforced within the scope of the eyespan, a fundamental point occasionally forgotten in practice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-tufte/comparisons-must-be-enforced-within-the-scope-of-the-eyespan-a/) [Edward Tufte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-tufte/) > [If there is a well thought-out design standard, it should be followed. In practice, great design comes from great designers. That is empirically the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-tufte/if-there-is-a-well-thought-out-design-standard-it-should-be-followed/) [Edward Tufte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-tufte/) > [The point of the essay is to change things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-tufte/the-point-of-the-essay-is-to-change-things/) [Edward Tufte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-tufte/) > [Here's the general theory: To clarify, add detail. Imagine that. To clarify, add detail. And clutter and overload are not an attribute of information,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-tufte/here-s-the-general-theory-to-clarify-add-detail-imagine-that-to/) [Edward Tufte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-tufte/) > [My idea here is that, inasmuch as certain cognitive tasks and principles are tied to nature's laws, these tasks and principles are indifferent to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-tufte/my-idea-here-is-that-inasmuch-as-certain-cognitive-tasks-and/) [Edward Tufte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-tufte/) > [Clutter and confusion are failures of design, not attributes of information.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-tufte/clutter-and-confusion-are-failures-of-design-not-attributes-of/) [Edward Tufte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-tufte/) > [Confusion and clutter are failures of design, not attributes of information. And so the point is to find design strategies that reveal detail and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-tufte/confusion-and-clutter-are-failures-of-design-not-attributes-of/) [Edward Tufte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-tufte/) > [We've drifted into this presentation mode without realizing the cost to the content and the audience in the process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-tufte/we-ve-drifted-into-this-presentation-mode-without-realizing-the-cost/) [Edward Tufte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-tufte/) > [If your words or images are not on point, making them dance in color won't make them relevant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-tufte/if-your-words-or-images-are-not-on-point-making-them-dance-in-color/) [Edward Tufte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-tufte/) > [I hope that I am generous and tolerant, but certainly on the intellectual side I think that there are discoverable truths, and some things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-tufte/i-hope-that-i-am-generous-and-tolerant-but-certainly-on-the/) [Edward Tufte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-tufte/) > [“If the statistics are boring, then you've got the wrong numbers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-tufte/if-the-statistics-are-boring-then-you-ve-got-the-wrong-numbers/) [Edward Tufte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-tufte/) > [Good design is a lot like clear thinking made visual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-tufte/good-design-is-a-lot-like-clear-thinking-made-visual/) [Edward Tufte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-tufte/) > [I think it is important for software to avoiding imposing a cognitive style on workers and their work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-tufte/i-think-it-is-important-for-software-to-avoiding-imposing-a-cognitive/) [Edward Tufte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-tufte/) > [The essential test of design is how well it assists the understanding of the content, not how stylish it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-tufte/the-essential-test-of-design-is-how-well-it-assists-the-understanding/) [Edward Tufte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-tufte/) [Explore all 64 Edward Tufte quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-tufte/) ## More Beautiful quotes > [I received a beautiful welcome to the world of music. I want to give something back to the younger generation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luciano-pavarotti/i-received-a-beautiful-welcome-to-the-world-of-music-i-want-to-give/) [Luciano Pavarotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luciano-pavarotti/) > [Being beautiful comes naturally!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-beautiful-comes-naturally/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My school was one of the most beautiful places a child can grow up in. You are surrounded by nature - cats, dogs, birds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amala-akkineni/my-school-was-one-of-the-most-beautiful-places-a-child-can-grow-up-in/) [Amala Akkineni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amala-akkineni/) > [“do not misunderstand person by beauty You really do not know its real or Mask on dirty thoughts”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-zaki-ansari/do-not-misunderstand-person-by-beauty-you-really-do-not-know-its-real/) [Mohammed Zaki Ansari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-zaki-ansari/) > [In the hearing world, I'm constantly having to lip-read and trying to understand what's going on. Sign language is so beautiful. It gives you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-ayling-ellis/in-the-hearing-world-i-m-constantly-having-to-lip-read-and-trying-to/) [Rose Ayling-Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-ayling-ellis/) > [The more perfect the sight is the more delightful the beautiful object. The more perfect the appetite, the sweeter the food. The more musical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/the-more-perfect-the-sight-is-the-more-delightful-the-beautiful/) [Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/) > [Call her beautiful a million times and she won't believe you. Call her ugly once, and she will never forget it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tumblr/call-her-beautiful-a-million-times-and-she-won-t-believe-you-call-her/) [Tumblr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tumblr/) > [You will never know just how beautiful you are to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-will-never-know-just-how-beautiful-you-are-to-me/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You felt a deep sorrow, the kind of melancholy you feel when you're in a beautiful place and the sun is going down](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thrity-umrigar/you-felt-a-deep-sorrow-the-kind-of-melancholy-you-feel-when-you-re-in/) [Thrity Umrigar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thrity-umrigar/) > [ Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit. My three \[great teachers\] did not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/teaching-might-even-be-the-greatest-of-the-arts-since-the-medium-is/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [You're beautiful, cute, pretty, gorgeous, and fuck.. I ran out of words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raghib-clitso/you-re-beautiful-cute-pretty-gorgeous-and-fuck-i-ran-out-of-words/) [Raghib Clitso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raghib-clitso/) > [Growing up in Iceland, it was very beautiful, very safe, but quite isolated. There was something about jazz music that had a way of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laufey/growing-up-in-iceland-it-was-very-beautiful-very-safe-but-quite/) [Laufey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laufey/) > [How could you feel worthless when God has honoured you by creating you and choosing you to be with Him, in this life and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmin-mogahed/how-could-you-feel-worthless-when-god-has-honoured-you-by-creating/) [Yasmin Mogahed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmin-mogahed/) > [Sometimes it's about less is more. It's about the seed. Thinking about this gigantic tree that you think is so beautiful but it started…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-durst/sometimes-it-s-about-less-is-more-it-s-about-the-seed-thinking-about/) [Fred Durst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-durst/) > [God's Word does provide life lessons to teach us how to live. And it gives us beautiful poetry that gives voice to our human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-rothschild/god-s-word-does-provide-life-lessons-to-teach-us-how-to-live-and-it/) [Jennifer Rothschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-rothschild/) [Browse all 17,976 Beautiful quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beautiful/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The best graphics are about the useful and important, about life and death, about the universe. 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