--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Depend upon it, the first universal…" description: "\"Depend upon it, the first universal characteristic of all great art is Tenderness, as the second is Truth.\" — John Ruskin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd0/john-ruskin-314_art_depend-upon-it-the-first-universal-chara_419068.jpg" --- # Depend upon it, the first universal characteristic of all… ![“Depend upon it, the first universal characteristic of all great art is Tenderness, as the second is Truth.” quote by John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd0/john-ruskin-314_art_depend-upon-it-the-first-universal-chara_419068.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd0/john-ruskin-314_art_depend-upon-it-the-first-universal-chara_419068.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd0/john-ruskin-314_art_depend-upon-it-the-first-universal-chara_419068.jpg) > “Depend upon it, the first universal characteristic of all great art is Tenderness, as the second is Truth.” [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Great art first requires tenderness, then truth, to resonate deeply. **In simple terms:** Tenderness precedes truth in art. Key Takeaway Cultivate empathy, then honesty. Themes art empathy truth Mood thoughtful inspired Type critical philosophical When to use this quote - painting - writing - music composition - curation Key Concepts aesthetics ethical art Questions to Reflect On - How does empathy enhance artistic truth? - Can truth exist without feeling? A Different Perspective Tenderness alone may seem sentimental. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Art is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art-is/) [Art Tenderness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art-tenderness-3719276/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Characteristic Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/characteristic-great-2019798/) [Characteristics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/characteristics/) [Depends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depends/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Great art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-art/) [Tenderness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tenderness/) [Tenderness Second](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tenderness-second-3719278/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Universal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universal/) [Universal Characteristic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universal-characteristic-3719277/) ## Related quotes > [Depend upon it, the first universal characteristic of all great art is Tenderness, as the second is Truth. 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Very colourful and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-gallagher/under-thatcher-who-ruled-us-with-an-iron-rod-great-art-was-made/) [Noel Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-gallagher/) > [There are so many great artists, I think, who kind of suffer from being icons, legends, acknowledged masters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-linklater/there-are-so-many-great-artists-i-think-who-kind-of-suffer-from-being/) [Richard Linklater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-linklater/) ## More by John Ruskin > [“Occult Theft,--Theft which hides itself even from itself, and is legal, respectable, and cowardly,--corrupts the body and soul of man, to the last fibre…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/occult-theft-theft-which-hides-itself-even-from-itself-and-is-legal/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [Mighty of heart, mighty of mind, magnanimous-to be this is indeed to be great in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/mighty-of-heart-mighty-of-mind-magnanimous-to-be-this-is-indeed-to-be/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [Life is a magic vase filled to the brim, so made that you cannot dip from it nor draw from it; but it overflows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/life-is-a-magic-vase-filled-to-the-brim-so-made-that-you-cannot-dip/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [As in the instances of alchemy, astrology, witchcraft, and other such popular creeds, political economy, has a plausible idea at the root of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/as-in-the-instances-of-alchemy-astrology-witchcraft-and-other-such/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [I am far more provoked at being thought foolish by foolish people, than pleased at being thought sensible by sensible people; and the average…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/i-am-far-more-provoked-at-being-thought-foolish-by-foolish-people/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [When we build ... let it not be for present delights nor for present use alone. 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Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/hear-the-sum-of-the-whole-matter-in-the-compass-of-one-brief-word/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. 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