“Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone else’s opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation.”
- 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
“Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone else’s opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation.”
Explanation
In this quote, Oscar Wilde critiques the lack of individuality and the tendency of most people to conform to the opinions, beliefs, and desires of others. He suggests that many individuals live their lives based on external influences, rather than cultivating their own authentic selves. Their thoughts are not original but are borrowed from the views of others; their lives are shaped by imitation and social expectations, rather than by personal experience or genuine expression; and their passions are often based on what is popular or culturally accepted, rather than what they truly feel or desire. Wilde is pointing out how people are often trapped in a cycle of mimicry and external validation, rather than pursuing a life of individualism and authenticity.
This comment reflects Wilde’s belief in the importance of individuality, self-expression, and personal freedom. He was a strong advocate for people to live their lives according to their own values and ideas, rather than relying on the influence of society or the expectations placed on them. Wilde emphasizes that true fulfillment comes from original thought, authentic passion, and self-discovery, not from following the crowd or adopting the viewpoints of others.
In modern contexts, this quote speaks to the pressures of social conformity and the challenge of self-expression in a world filled with external influences—whether through media, culture, or societal norms. Wilde encourages us to reflect on our own thoughts, passions, and lives, asking whether they truly belong to us or whether we have simply inherited them from the world around us. It’s a call to embrace authenticity and individuality, and to live in a way that is true to our own selves rather than mimicking the lives of others.
