“Literature must rest always on a principle, and temporal considerations are no principle at all. For, to the poet, all times and places are one; the stuff he deals with is eternal and eternally the same: no theme is inept, no past or present preferable.”
- 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
“Literature must rest always on a principle, and temporal considerations are no principle at all. For, to the poet, all times and places are one; the stuff he deals with is eternal and eternally the same: no theme is inept, no past or present preferable.”
Explanation
In this quote, Oscar Wilde argues that literature, especially in the realm of poetry, should not be bound by the limitations of time or place. He asserts that artistic expression must be founded on a principle—an underlying truth or universal idea—and that temporal concerns (such as the specific era or current events) should not dictate the themes or nature of the work. Wilde emphasizes that for the poet, time and space are irrelevant; they transcend the here and now, as their subject matter is based on eternal themes—human nature, love, beauty, mortality—which are unchanging throughout history.
This view reflects Wilde’s belief in the timeless nature of art and literature. He contends that literature should be concerned not with the temporary or fads of the moment, but with the universal and eternal truths that resonate across all periods and cultures. In this sense, no historical period or specific context is inherently superior or more relevant than another, because the themes of art, like human emotion or moral questions, are always applicable.
In modern contexts, this quote invites reflection on the purpose of literature and art today. It challenges the notion that art must be relevant or tied to current events, suggesting instead that true art remains eternal and speaks to universal human experiences. Wilde’s words encourage us to think about how art and literature should transcend trends and engage with the timeless aspects of human life. It is a call to embrace the universal in literature rather than limit its scope to the temporary or the fleeting concerns of the moment.
