“It is absurd to divide people into good and bad. People are either charming or tedious.”
- 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
“It is absurd to divide people into good and bad. People are either charming or tedious.”
Explanation
In this quote, Oscar Wilde challenges the conventional moral framework that categorizes people as either good or bad, suggesting instead that the true measure of a person is whether they are charming or tedious. For Wilde, the dichotomy between good and bad is overly simplistic, overlooking the complexity of human nature. He posits that charm—which can be understood as a person’s ability to engage, captivate, and be interesting—is what truly defines how we perceive others. In contrast, people who are tedious lack that spark of interest, energy, or allure, leaving them unremarkable and difficult to engage with. This view of human interaction reflects Wilde’s emphasis on wit, charm, and the art of conversation as essential components of what makes people engaging or tiresome.
Wilde’s perspective reflects his broader critique of society’s tendency to simplify human identity into rigid moral categories, often overlooking the more nuanced and subjective qualities that actually shape our interactions. In Wilde’s view, the key to understanding people lies not in judging them as “good” or “bad,” but in recognizing their energy, vitality, and ability to engage others. His focus is on the social and aesthetic qualities of people, suggesting that the true measure of a person is how they contribute to the dynamics of a relationship or social interaction.
In modern contexts, this quote resonates with the idea that human complexity cannot be reduced to simplistic moral labels. Instead of focusing on rigid moral judgments, we might look at how individuals make us feel—whether they contribute to our lives in a way that is engaging and interesting or whether they bring a sense of boredom or disconnection. Wilde’s words remind us that our interactions with others are defined more by personal connection and vibrancy than by rigid moral classifications.
