“ I am sick to death of cleverness. Everybody is clever nowadays. You can't go anywhere without meeting clever people. The thing has become an absolute public nuisance. I wish to goodness we had a few fools left. ”
Oscar Wilde, The Importance of Being Earnest (1895). copy citation
| Author | Oscar Wilde |
|---|---|
| Source | The Importance of Being Earnest |
| Topic | foolishness cleverness nuisance |
| Date | 1895 |
| Language | English |
| Reference | |
| Note | |
| Weblink | http://www.gutenberg.org/files/844/844-h/844-h.htm |
Context
“That's his.
jack. Is that clever?
Algernon. It is perfectly phrased! and quite as true as any observation in civilised life should be.
jack. I am sick to death of cleverness. Everybody is clever nowadays. You can't go anywhere without meeting clever people. The thing has become an absolute public nuisance. I wish to goodness we had a few fools left.
Algernon. We have.
jack. I should extremely like to meet them. What do they talk about?
Algernon. The fools?” source
jack. Is that clever?
Algernon. It is perfectly phrased! and quite as true as any observation in civilised life should be.
jack. I am sick to death of cleverness. Everybody is clever nowadays. You can't go anywhere without meeting clever people. The thing has become an absolute public nuisance. I wish to goodness we had a few fools left.
Algernon. We have.
jack. I should extremely like to meet them. What do they talk about?
Algernon. The fools?” source
Meaning and analysis
