“As long as war is regarded as wicked, it will always have its fascination. When it is looked upon as vulgar, it will cease to be popular.”
- 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.
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Quote
“As long as war is regarded as wicked, it will always have its fascination. When it is looked upon as vulgar, it will cease to be popular.”
Explanation
In this quote, Oscar Wilde discusses the romanticization of war and how it is often viewed through the lens of morality and aesthetic appeal. Wilde suggests that as long as war is seen as noble or virtuous, there will always be a certain fascination or allure to it, often driven by the sense of heroism, glory, or sacrifice associated with conflict. People may view war through the lens of idealism, which makes it seem exciting or worthy of admiration. However, Wilde argues that once war is viewed as vulgar, as something crude, disgusting, or pointless, it will lose its romantic appeal and cease to be seen as desirable or popular. The shift in perception from a noble cause to a meaningless or disastrous endeavor strips war of its romanticization, removing its power to attract admiration.
Wilde’s commentary is a critique of the mythology surrounding war, which has often been glorified in history and culture, despite the horrific realities of violence and destruction. He underscores the idea that cultural perceptions of war shift based on how it is framed—if it is seen as something disgusting or unrefined, people will lose interest and romanticism toward it.
In modern contexts, this quote resonates with how society and media shape the way we view conflicts, whether through glorification or by emphasizing the ugliness and pointlessness of war. Wilde’s words suggest that as long as we romanticize or glorify war, it will continue to have a certain appeal, but if we begin to view it through the lens of brutality, tragedy, and vulgarity, it may lose its power to capture public imagination.
