Everything is dangerous, my dear fellow. If it wasn't so, life wouldn't be worth living.
Oscar WildeRead
America has never quite forgiven Europe for having been discovered somewhat earlier in history than itself.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote humorously reflects America's resentment towards Europe for its earlier historical prominence.
Oscar Wilde's quote cleverly critiques the underlying tension between America and Europe by suggesting that America feels overshadowed by Europe's historical significance. It highlights a humorous take on national pride and the absurdities of historical grudges, engaging with themes of identity and rivalry between continents.
Themes
AmericaEuropeHistoryResentmentNational Pride
In practice
Example use cases
A speaker at a cultural event discussing the historical relationship between America and Europe might use this quote to highlight lingering sentiments.
More from Oscar Wilde
All quotes βLondon is too full of fogs and serious people. Whether the fogs produce the serious people, or whether the serious people produce the fogs, I don't know.
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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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Men always want to be a woman's first love - women like to be a man's last romance.
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A truth ceases to be true when more than one person believes in it.
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His morality is all sympathy, just what morality should be
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