Everything is dangerous, my dear fellow. If it wasn't so, life wouldn't be worth living.
Oscar WildeRead
Oh! it is absurd to have a hard-and-fast rule about what one should read and what one shouldn't. More than half of modern culture depends on what one shouldn't read.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Reading should not be restricted by rigid rules, as much of culture derives from what is often deemed unworthy.
Oscar Wilde's quote emphasizes the importance of reading widely and without restrictions, suggesting that many of the cultural insights and knowledge we gain come from texts that may not traditionally be valued or respected. By asserting that 'more than half of modern culture depends on what one shouldn't read', Wilde advocates for a more open-minded approach to literature and learning, encouraging readers to explore beyond prescribed norms.
Themes
ReadingCultureOpen-MindednessLiteratureSelf-Discovery
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a discussion about literary censorship.
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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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