Why is Oscar Wilde such a revolutionary philosopher? And am I even right about this?
2007-06-05 18:02:45 · 6 answers · asked by synchronised 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Quotations
Oscar Wilde was a wit, and a playwright.
He said funny, ironic things and he was attractive and fashionable. I don't think he was considered revolutionary or a philosopher in the academic sense of the words.
"A little sincerity is a dangerous thing, and a great deal of it is absolutely fatal."
"Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much."
"America is the only country that went from barbarism to decadence without civilization in between."
"Anyone who lives within their means suffers from a lack of imagination."
2007-06-05 18:22:21 · answer #1 · answered by Lu 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A touch of humour, if sarcasm at times: some depth, intelligent observation of life, people and society --- that is Wilde, Oscar! Popular, for good reasons!
2007-06-06 04:47:21 · answer #2 · answered by swanjarvi 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
wilde was not a philosopher he was a camp playwright
most of the quotes ascribed to him are not by him at all (see Uncycopedia.org)
it is a bit of a joke by the cognoscenti to say something pompous or aphoristic and then ascribe it to Wilde (see Monte Python; 'your majesty is like a stream of bat's piss' 'WHAT??"" 'I mean, you shine out like a shaft of gold, when all around is dark.' 'Oh, Ha Ha! Very good, Wilde' My favourite non-wilde quote is "by all means be a poet, my dear nephew, only open a small toilet paper factory first'
2007-06-06 01:27:53 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
He was an amazing amazing writer... besides which, there are a lot of his quotes to chose from, as he was on the prolific side. and, as someone else said, he was way ahead of his time--the things he wrote/said still apply now :)
2007-06-06 01:12:21 · answer #4 · answered by *Do*You*Believe* 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He was witty then, and still is now - when a guy is funny, I guess people are going to quote him, just look at Shakespeare, poeple liked him, and they're still going to his plays!
2007-06-06 01:11:39 · answer #5 · answered by curious239 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He was brilliant and his quotations are even relevant now. Way ahead of his time.
2007-06-06 01:05:41 · answer #6 · answered by hurricane197 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋