De Profundis Oscar Wilde Quotes

<p>Oscar Wilde is renowned worldwide as an influential literary figure of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His literature has been studied and analyzed by scholars over time, and his most resonating works are often used to reference powerful and profound emotions. In particular, Wilde’s “De Profundis,” written during his imprisonment, is a collection of quotes that explore the darkest depths of pain, depression, and suffering. Let’s dive into some of the most searing and beautiful quotes from Oscar Wilde’s “De Profundis.</p>
<h2>1. The Power of Forgiveness</h2>
<p>One of Wilde’s most powerful quotes from his “De Profundis” collection speaks of the power of forgiveness. “The truth is, of course, that a man who has nothing but money is the most miserable creature in the world. To forgive and forget is not a Christian virtue but a divine quality.” Here, Wilde speaks to and acknowledges the importance of forgiveness in order to overcome our suffering and misery. He emphasizes the fact that forgiveness is not something that comes naturally to us, but is instead a quality we must strive to attain.</p>
<h2>2. Love & Friendship</h2>
<p>Wilde sheds light on another fundamental emotion in his “De Profundis” collection with his quote, “A man cannot be too careful in the choice of his enemies.” This speaks to the power of love and friendship, and their importance in the midst of hardship. Wilde acknowledges the importance of surrounding himself with positive, supportive relationships despite the difficulty of his situation, and thus choosing the people that we surround ourselves with wisely is integral to our own personal growth.</p>
<h2>3. Conquering Fear</h2>
<p>Another moving text from Wilde’s “De Profundis” quotes speaks of fear, and the courage we must have to overcome it. “To fear love is to fear life, and those who fear life are already three parts dead.” Here, Wilde speaks to one of the greatest challenges we face in our lives – facing our fears. He speaks to the importance of conquering a fear in order to be fully alive and present, and his insight is a reminder that it is natural and normal to confront fear and doubt in life, but that it is an obstacle we must strive to overcome.</p>
<h2>4. Joy</h2>
<p>Wilde’s “De Profundis” is not only a collection of his darkest thoughts and feelings. Instead, Out of his darkest moments, Wilde made a point to express his joy and happiness in life. One of his famous quotes is “The more suffering one has, the more one is capable of feeling the joy of life.” This reflects Wilde’s unique ability to express both sorrow and happiness and the fact that, in life, the only way to truly appreciate the joy of life is to have experienced pain or suffering.</p>
<h2>The Influence of Art & Nature</h2>
<p>In addition to his main reflections in “De Profundis,” Oscar Wilde is known for his love of art and nature. One of his quotes from this collection speaks to this influenceWith, “One has to beg for love, laughter and art, or else be damned for seeking it.” Here, Wilde speaks to the power and importance of art and nature, and the access to them that we have no control over. He speaks to the beauty of art, laughter and love, and their power to lift us out of our deepest despair.</p>
<h2>The Value of Hard Work</h2>
<p>Finally, one of the most reflective and thought-provoking quotes from Wilde’s “De Profundis” collection speaks of the importance of hard work and dedication. “The future is something which everyone reaches at the rate of 60 minutes an hour, whatever he does, whoever he is.” In this quote, Wilde speaks to the truth of life and the fact that life is a series of moments, and the only way to move forward is to work hard, even in the most difficult moments.</p>
<h2>The Pain of Suffering</h2>
<p>Oscar Wilde’s “De Profundis” collection consists of some of the most resonating and deeply reflective quotes of all time. One of Wilde’s most searing quotes is “The only way to get rid of temptation is to yield to it.” Here, he acknowledges the power of suffering, pain and temptation in our lives, and speaks to the fact that, in order to be truly free, we must confront and express our suffering, rather than try to run away from it. </p>
<h2>The Role of Reason</h2>
<p>In addition to speaking of emotions, Wilde is known for his deeply thought-provoking quotes that explore the power of reason and logic. “The basis of optimism is sheer terror.” Here, Wilde offers us a deep perspective on the power of reason, exploring the idea that reason can be both a form of optimism, if used wisely, and a form of destruction, if not used carefully.</p>
<h2>The Strength of the Mind</h2>
<p>One of Wilde’s most powerful and hopeful quotes from his “De Profundis” collection speaks to the strength of the mind and its power to overcome. “The soul is born old but grows young. That is the comedy of life.” In this quote, Wilde speaks to the power of the mind over time and its power to grow, learn and evolve, even when life throws its hardest challenges at us.</p>
<h2>The Meaning of Life</h2>
<p>Finally, one of Wilde’s most famous quotes from this collection delves into the meaning of life itself. “The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it.” Here, Wilde speaks to the idea that life is an ever-evolving journey, and that, even in life’s most difficult moments, we must accept and confront our temptations, rather than running away from them. This quote speaks to Wilde’s understanding of life and its complexities, and his courage when facing them.</p>
<h2>The Price of Happiness</h2>
<p>Wilde’s “De Profundis” collection also contains reflections on the power of happiness and the price that we pay in order to attain it. One of his most famous quotes is “It takes a great deal of courage to see the world in all its tainted glory, and still to love it.” which speaks to the idea that happiness can sometimes come at great cost, but that is a risk worth taking in order to experience the joy life has to offer.</p>
<h2>The Promises We Make to Ourselves</h2>
<p>One of Wilde’s most honest and thought-provoking quotes speaks to the promises we make to ourselves and their importance in our lives. “Keep love in your heart. A life without it is like a sunless garden when the flowers are dead.” In this quote, Wilde speaks to the inevitable pain of life and the importance of keeping love in our hearts despite it.</p>
<h2>The Perils of Self-Doubt</h2>
<p>Finally, one of Wilde’s most powerful quotes from his “De Profundis” collection speaks of the power of self-doubt and how it can affect our lives. “A great wind is blowing, and that gives you either imagination or a headache.” Here, Wilde speaks to the power that our thoughts and emotions have to sway our life’s journey, for better or for worse.</p>

Dannah Hannah is an established poet and author who loves to write about the beauty and power of poetry. She has published several collections of her own works, as well as articles and reviews on poets she admires. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English, with a specialization in poetics, from the University of Toronto. Hannah was also a panelist for the 2017 Futurepoem book Poetry + Social Justice, which aimed to bring attention to activism through poetry. She lives in Toronto, Canada, where she continues to write and explore the depths of poetry and its influence on our lives.

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