“No woman should ever be quite accurate about her age. It looks so calculating.”
- October 16, 1854 – November 30, 1900
- Irish
- Author, poet, playwright
- Written novels, plays, and poems such as “The Picture of Dorian Gray,” “The Importance of Being Earnest,” and “Salome,” he had a great influence on British literature in the late 19th century through his witty social criticism and humor.
Quote
“No woman should ever be quite accurate about her age. It looks so calculating.”
Explanation
In this quote, Oscar Wilde humorously comments on the social expectations surrounding women and their age. He suggests that for a woman to be exactly accurate about her age might appear too calculated or deliberate, implying that women are often expected to maintain a certain level of mystery or elusiveness about their age in order to preserve their appeal. Wilde’s words reflect the societal pressures of his time, where women’s age was often seen as a reflection of their beauty and value, and revealing too much could be considered a breach of the unwritten rules about femininity and attractiveness.
Wilde’s remark also plays on the idea of appearances and how women, in particular, were (and sometimes still are) judged based on external qualities. His humor shines through in the suggestion that accuracy about one’s age is not just a matter of honesty, but one of social calculation, tied to the perception of a woman’s status and youthfulness. This reflects the absurdity of how social norms often restrict the behavior and self-expression of women, forcing them to navigate expectations rather than being free to simply be themselves.
In modern contexts, this quote continues to resonate with ongoing discussions about ageism and gender expectations. While society today has made strides toward recognizing the value of women at all stages of life, there is still an undercurrent of pressure for women to conform to youthful ideals. Wilde’s words remind us of the often superficial nature of these judgments and challenge us to move beyond the societal fixation on age to appreciate the authenticity and individuality of people, regardless of their stage in life.
