--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Wilde is an invaluable acquaintance…" description: "\"Wilde is an invaluable acquaintance. Often, in situations where I am required to appear witty, I simply steal large chunks from his works and attempt t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcf/alexandra-petri-5715_i-am_wilde-is-an-invaluable-acquaintance-ofte_1689503.jpg" --- # Wilde is an invaluable acquaintance. Often, in situations… ![“Wilde is an invaluable acquaintance. Often, in situations where I am required to appear witty, I simply steal large chunks from his works and attempt to pass them off as my own with minor modifications.” quote by Alexandra Petri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcf/alexandra-petri-5715_i-am_wilde-is-an-invaluable-acquaintance-ofte_1689503.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcf/alexandra-petri-5715_i-am_wilde-is-an-invaluable-acquaintance-ofte_1689503.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcf/alexandra-petri-5715_i-am_wilde-is-an-invaluable-acquaintance-ofte_1689503.jpg) > “Wilde is an invaluable acquaintance. Often, in situations where I am required to appear witty, I simply steal large chunks from his works and attempt to pass them off as my own with minor modifications.” [Alexandra Petri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-petri/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker admits to copying Oscar Wilde's witty lines, modifying them slightly, to appear clever in social settings. **In simple terms:** The speaker steals Wilde's wit to seem clever. Key Takeaway Be original or credit sources. Themes authorship wit ethics Mood playful self‑critical Type humorous reflective When to use this quote - social gatherings - online posts - public speaking Key Concepts literary plagiarism social performance Questions to Reflect On - How can you develop your own wit? - What are the risks of misattributing ideas? A Different Perspective Reliance on another's style can hinder personal voice development. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Appear Witty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appear-witty-1039635/) [I am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-am/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Own](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/own/) [Pass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pass/) [Steal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/steal/) [Where](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/where/) [Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wilde/) [Wilde Invaluable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wilde-invaluable-1039634/) [Witty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/witty/) [Witty Simply](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/witty-simply-1039636/) ## Related quotes > [“Those who find beautiful meanings in beautiful things are the cultivated. 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Incrementally, day by day, we should reach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-petri/bills-ought-to-be-passed-with-deliberation-by-committees-change/) [Alexandra Petri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-petri/) > [Although no one explicitly wants a president who could have a reliable fall back career in stand-up comedy, everyone shudders at the thought of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-petri/although-no-one-explicitly-wants-a-president-who-could-have-a/) [Alexandra Petri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-petri/) > [George Washington didn't have to make us laugh; he just had to establish precedents and avoid chopping down more cherry trees than he could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-petri/george-washington-didn-t-have-to-make-us-laugh-he-just-had-to/) [Alexandra Petri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-petri/) > [At Harvard, people like to impart the idea that you are a mover and shaker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-petri/at-harvard-people-like-to-impart-the-idea-that-you-are-a-mover-and/) [Alexandra Petri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-petri/) > [It's easier to find the joke in something when you think, 'This - this is ridiculous.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-petri/it-s-easier-to-find-the-joke-in-something-when-you-think-this-this-is/) [Alexandra Petri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-petri/) > [The desire for attention has become a primal need along the lines of food, water, and clothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-petri/the-desire-for-attention-has-become-a-primal-need-along-the-lines-of/) [Alexandra Petri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-petri/) > [The biggest way to be productive is if you're procrastinating on another more important project.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-petri/the-biggest-way-to-be-productive-is-if-you-re-procrastinating-on/) [Alexandra Petri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-petri/) > [As long as cantankerous old people have existed, they have complained that kids nowadays don't seem to know anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-petri/as-long-as-cantankerous-old-people-have-existed-they-have-complained/) [Alexandra Petri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-petri/) [Explore all 100 Alexandra Petri quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-petri/) ## More I am quotes > [If I am going to be phased out by whatever powers, then I want people to know that it is not because I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parvathy/if-i-am-going-to-be-phased-out-by-whatever-powers-then-i-want-people/) [Parvathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parvathy/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. 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