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You have always told me it was Ernest. I have introduced you to every one as Ernest. You answer to the name of Ernest. You look as if your name was Ernest. You are the most earnest-looking person I ever saw in my life. It is perfectly absurd your saying that your name isn't Ernest.
Oscar Wilde
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote humorously highlights the absurdity of identity and the importance placed on names.

In this quote by Oscar Wilde, the speaker humorously insists that the person being addressed must be named 'Ernest' because of how they present themselves and how others perceive them. It explores the idea that our identities can often be shaped by external perceptions and societal expectations, leading to a playful examination of truth and authenticity.

Themes

IdentityNamesPerceptionAbsurdityHumor

In practice

Example use cases

Sharing this quote during a discussion about identity and self-perception in a philosophy class.

More from Oscar Wilde

Everything is dangerous, my dear fellow. If it wasn't so, life wouldn't be worth living.
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When one has never heard a man's name in the course of one's life, it speaks volumes for him; he must be quite respectable.
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A truth ceases to be true when more than one person believes in it.
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