Everything is dangerous, my dear fellow. If it wasn't so, life wouldn't be worth living.
Oscar WildeRead
She has form," he said to himself, as he walked away through the grove - "that cannot be denied to her; but has she got feeling? I am afraid not. In fact, she is like most artists; she is all style, without any sincerity. She would not sacrifice herself for others. She thinks merely of music, and everybody knows that arts are selfish. Still, it must be admitted that she has some beautiful notes in her voice. What a pity it is that they do not mean anything, or do any practical good.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote critiques a woman's artistic expression, highlighting the distinction between aesthetic beauty and genuine emotional depth.
In this quote, Oscar Wilde reflects on the nature of artistic talent and sincerity. He acknowledges that while the woman possesses remarkable skill and beauty in her artistry, it is ultimately devoid of authentic emotion or selflessness. Wilde suggests that many artists prioritize style and technical proficiency over true feeling, which he views as a deficiency that undermines the value of their work, despite its superficial appeal.
Themes
ArtSincerityEmotionBeautySelfishness
In practice
Example use cases
In a critique of a recent performance, one might say, 'While she has form, I wonder if she has feeling, as Oscar Wilde pointed out.'
More from Oscar Wilde
All quotes →London 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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