“Now that the House of Commons is trying to become useful, it does a great deal of harm.”
- 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
“Now that the House of Commons is trying to become useful, it does a great deal of harm.”
Explanation
In this quote, Oscar Wilde offers a satirical critique of the House of Commons, the lower house of the British Parliament, and by extension, the political system as a whole. He suggests that the moment politicians or governmental institutions attempt to become pragmatic or practical—in other words, when they try to focus on being “useful”—they actually end up doing more harm than good. Wilde’s cynicism towards political efforts to enact change implies that these actions, often motivated by a desire to serve the public or improve society, are more likely to cause unintended consequences or exacerbate existing problems. This reflects his broader skepticism toward political systems and the effectiveness of bureaucratic solutions.
Wilde’s comment may also reflect his belief that governmental authority or institutions, when overzealous in their attempt to be “useful,” can stifle individual freedoms, creativity, or progress, instead focusing on short-sighted or flawed solutions. By trying too hard to “fix” things, they can end up creating more complications and disruptions.
In modern contexts, this quote resonates with critiques of contemporary political systems where well-intentioned reforms or initiatives can often lead to overregulation, bureaucracy, or policies that fail to address the root causes of issues. Wilde’s words remind us to approach politics and governance with a degree of skepticism, questioning whether the solutions put forth truly improve society or merely create more problems.
