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Quote#Truth

The entire vitality of art depends upon its being either full of…

Quote byJohn Ruskin · 1819–1900

Commonly attributed — not confirmed in an authoritative edition. Cited on Wikiquote to: Lectures on Art (1870), Lecture IV.

English (original)

The entire vitality of art depends upon its being either full of truth, or full of use; and that, however pleasant, wonderful, or impressive it may be in itself, it must yet be of inferior kind, and tend to deeper inferiority, unless it has clearly one of these main objects, — either to state a true thing, or to adorn a serviceable one.

— John Ruskin

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