Everything is dangerous, my dear fellow. If it wasn't so, life wouldn't be worth living.
Oscar WildeRead
I hate vulgar realism in literature. The man who would call a spade a spade should be compelled to use one.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote criticizes blunt realism in literature and suggests that one should engage in the realities they describe.
Oscar Wilde's quote expresses a disdain for vulgar realism in literature, highlighting a tension between artistic expression and the raw portrayal of reality. By stating that someone who insists on blunt honesty should actually experience the realities they reference, Wilde implies that true understanding and creativity require deeper engagement with the subject rather than mere surface-level representation.
Themes
RealismLiteratureTruthArtistryExpression
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion on the role of literary styles, one could use this quote to emphasize the importance of depth over superficial realism.
More from Oscar Wilde
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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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