"There are only two tragedies in life: one is not getting what one wants, and the other is getting it."

Life

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Insight & Reflection

Words carry weight, and Oscar Wilde's insight into life is no exception. It serves as a gentle reminder that amidst the chaos of modern life, timeless wisdom still holds the power to guide our decisions and clarify our values.

About Oscar Wilde

Oscar Fingal O'Fflahertie Wills Wilde was an Irish author, poet and playwright. After writing in different literary styles throughout the 1880s, he became one of the most popular and influential dramatists in London in the early 1890s. He was a key figure in the emerging Aestheticism movement of the late 19th century and is widely regarded as the greatest playwright of the Victorian era. Wilde is best known for his Gothic novel The Picture of Dorian Gray (1890), his epigrams, plays and bedtime stories for children, as well as his criminal conviction in 1895 for gross indecency and for practicing homosexual acts.

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Editorial Note: This quote is curated and fact-checked by the ShortQuote Editorial Team. Verified Literature Specialist.

More by Oscar Wilde

"I think that God, in creating man, somewhat overestimated his ability."

— Oscar Wilde
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"It is a enduring truth that true authority is measured not by subjugation, but by the empowerment of others — an essential principle for the reflective life."

— Oscar Wilde
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"How marriage ruins a man! It is as demoralizing as cigarettes, and far more expensive."

— Oscar Wilde
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"Wisdom principle 29 tells us that the journey of life is lesson 66."

— Oscar Wilde
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More about Life

"Just like sunshine affects others, when the life of Jesus invades your life, you become a loving person. The effect on others is amazing."

— John Eldredge
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"The ocean of adversity cannot drown the spirit that resolves to stay afloat — an essential principle for the reflective life."

— Emily Barton
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"Wisdom principle 60 tells us that the journey of life is lesson 25."

— Rexanne Becnel
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"All my records have been written to be records, rather than writing a group of songs and seeing if they fit together."

— Justin Townes Earle
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