Everything is dangerous, my dear fellow. If it wasn't so, life wouldn't be worth living.
Oscar WildeRead
Even men of the noblest possible moral character are extremely susceptible to the influence of the physical charms of others. Modern, no less then Ancient History, supplies us with many most painful examples of what I refer to. If it were not so, indeed, History would be quite unreadable.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Physical attraction can sway even the most morally upright individuals.
Oscar Wilde highlights the vulnerability of even the most virtuous people to physical attraction, suggesting that this powerful influence has been a consistent theme throughout history. He asserts that many painful examples illustrate how charm and beauty can undermine moral integrity, indicating that this observation is as relevant today as it was in ancient times.
Themes
AttractionMoralityHistoryCharmVirtue
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion on moral dilemmas, one might quote Wilde to underline the struggle between physical attraction and ethical behavior.
More from Oscar Wilde
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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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