--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: [Referring to the imprisonment of Oscar…" description: "\"“[Referring to the imprisonment of Oscar Wilde] ... Will civilization never reach humane ideals? Will men always punish most severely the sins they do ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/305/frank-harris-28254_civilization_referring-to-the-imprisonment-of-oscar-w_2456348.jpg" --- # \[Referring to the imprisonment of Oscar Wilde\] ... Will… ![“[Referring to the imprisonment of Oscar Wilde] ... Will civilization never reach humane ideals? Will men always punish most severely the sins they do not understand and which hold forth for them no temptation? Did Jesus suffer in vain?” quote by Frank Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/305/frank-harris-28254_civilization_referring-to-the-imprisonment-of-oscar-w_2456348.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/305/frank-harris-28254_civilization_referring-to-the-imprisonment-of-oscar-w_2456348.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/305/frank-harris-28254_civilization_referring-to-the-imprisonment-of-oscar-w_2456348.jpg) > ““\[Referring to the imprisonment of Oscar Wilde\] ... Will civilization never reach humane ideals? Will men always punish most severely the sins they do not understand and which hold forth for them no temptation? Did Jesus suffer in vain?”” [Frank Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-harris/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A critique questioning whether civilization can ever achieve true humanity, noting that people often punish what they cannot comprehend, and questioning the purpose of suffering. **In simple terms:** Civilization may never reach true humanity, and suffering may seem pointless. Key Takeaway Question societal progress and the purpose of suffering. Themes justice humanity misunderstanding Mood critical inquisitive Type philosophical analytical When to use this quote - legal systems - social reform - personal faith - historical analysis Key Concepts moral philosophy existential doubt Questions to Reflect On - Can societies improve morally? - What role does suffering play in personal growth? A Different Perspective It may overlook progress made in human rights. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilization/) [Homosexuality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/homosexuality/) [Humane Ideals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humane-ideals-613433/) [Imprisonment Oscar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imprisonment-oscar-613435/) [Oscar wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oscar-wilde/) [Punishment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/punishment/) [Sins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sins/) [Temptation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/temptation/) [Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wilde/) [Wilde Civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wilde-civilization-613434/) ## Related quotes > [“Those who find beautiful meanings in beautiful things are the cultivated. For these there is hope.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/those-who-find-beautiful-meanings-in-beautiful-things-are-the/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Oscar Wilde wrote, “In this world there are only two tragedies. One is getting what one wants, and the other is not getting it.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-perel/oscar-wilde-wrote-in-this-world-there-are-only-two-tragedies-one-is/) [Esther Perel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-perel/) > [A refusal of nature as a model is a tradition that goes right back to Oscar Wilde.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-haynes/a-refusal-of-nature-as-a-model-is-a-tradition-that-goes-right-back-to/) [Todd Haynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-haynes/) > [The Chinese general Sun Tzu said that all war was based on deception. Oscar Wilde said the same thing of romance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-tempest/the-chinese-general-sun-tzu-said-that-all-war-was-based-on-deception/) [Marco Tempest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-tempest/) > [“(Oscar) Wilde is surely one of the most erotic writers who ever lived.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanith-lee/oscar-wilde-is-surely-one-of-the-most-erotic-writers-who-ever-lived/) [Tanith Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanith-lee/) > [Oscar Wilde once said that to live is the rarest thing in the world, because most people just exist, and that's all. I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/oscar-wilde-once-said-that-to-live-is-the-rarest-thing-in-the-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think Oscar Wilde wrote a poem about a robin who loved a white rose. He loved it so much that he pierced his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-pickford/i-think-oscar-wilde-wrote-a-poem-about-a-robin-who-loved-a-white-rose/) [Mary Pickford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-pickford/) > [Oscar Wilde said that sunsets were not valued because we could not pay for sunsets. But Oscar Wilde was wrong; we can pay for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/oscar-wilde-said-that-sunsets-were-not-valued-because-we-could-not/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Oscar Wilde said that the gods punish us in two ways: first, they don't give us what we want, then, they do. He forgot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perry-brass/oscar-wilde-said-that-the-gods-punish-us-in-two-ways-first-they-don-t/) [Perry Brass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perry-brass/) > [“A dreamer is one who can only find his way by moonlight, and his punishment is that he sees the dawn before the rest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/a-dreamer-is-one-who-can-only-find-his-way-by-moonlight-and-his/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [If every witty thing that's said was true, Oscar Wilde, the world would worship You!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-r-burch/if-every-witty-thing-that-s-said-was-true-oscar-wilde-the-world-would/) [Michael R. Burch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-r-burch/) > [I'm sure I've been influenced by every fine writer I've ever read, from Dickens and Austen to Auden and Jane Hirshfield. And also, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-bloom/i-m-sure-i-ve-been-influenced-by-every-fine-writer-i-ve-ever-read/) [Amy Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-bloom/) > [Oscar Wilde: 'Do you mind if I smoke?' Sarah Bernhardt: 'I don't care if you burn.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-bernhardt/oscar-wilde-do-you-mind-if-i-smoke-sarah-bernhardt-i-don-t-care-if/) [Sarah Bernhardt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-bernhardt/) > [“The truth is rarely pure and never simple. -Oscar Wilde”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vi-keeland/the-truth-is-rarely-pure-and-never-simple-oscar-wilde/) [Vi Keeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vi-keeland/) > [Oscar Wilde was suing the Marquis of Queensbury in 1895 for libel accusing Wilde of homosexuality Counsel: Have you ever adored a young man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/oscar-wilde-was-suing-the-marquis-of-queensbury-in-1895-for-libel/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) ## More by Frank Harris > [“There are two main traditions of English writing: the one of perfect liberty, that of Chaucer and Shakespeare, completely outspoken, with a certain liking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-harris/there-are-two-main-traditions-of-english-writing-the-one-of-perfect/) [Frank Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-harris/) > [“For the first time, vague doubts assaulted me, the shattering suspicion that for all pleasure and joy in life we had to pay ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-harris/for-the-first-time-vague-doubts-assaulted-me-the-shattering-suspicion/) [Frank Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-harris/) > [“(...) always regretted that good memory often prevents us from thinking for ourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-harris/always-regretted-that-good-memory-often-prevents-us-from-thinking-for/) [Frank Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-harris/) > [Strong people are made by opposition like kites that go up against the wind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-harris/strong-people-are-made-by-opposition-like-kites-that-go-up-against/) [Frank Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-harris/) > [I am, really, a great writer; my only difficulty is in finding great readers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-harris/i-am-really-a-great-writer-my-only-difficulty-is-in-finding-great/) [Frank Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-harris/) > [All the faults of the age come from Christianity and journalism. 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As a rule picks and highlights what is important, omitting what is accidental or trivial.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-harris/memory-is-the-mother-of-the-muses-prototype-artist-as-a-rule-picks/) [Frank Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-harris/) > [“I will, however, establish that success in love, as in all other aspects of life, belongs, as a rule, to the persistent and fiber…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-harris/i-will-however-establish-that-success-in-love-as-in-all-other-aspects/) [Frank Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-harris/) > [“What will happen to those who stone the prophets and persecute the masters? 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