--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Oscar Wilde said it's never the question…" description: "\"“Oscar Wilde said it's never the question that's indiscreet, only the answers.”\" — Janet Evanovich" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ab/janet-evanovich-291_oscar-wilde_oscar-wilde-said-it-s-never-the-question_1171263.png" --- # Oscar Wilde said it's never the question that's… ![“Oscar Wilde said it's never the question that's indiscreet, only the answers.” quote by Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ab/janet-evanovich-291_oscar-wilde_oscar-wilde-said-it-s-never-the-question_1171263.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ab/janet-evanovich-291_oscar-wilde_oscar-wilde-said-it-s-never-the-question_1171263.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ab/janet-evanovich-291_oscar-wilde_oscar-wilde-said-it-s-never-the-question_1171263.png) > ““Oscar Wilde said it's never the question that's indiscreet, only the answers.”” [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote suggests that the problem lies not in the question itself but in the answers given. **In simple terms:** Answers can be more revealing than questions. Key Takeaway Think before responding; consider the impact of your reply. Themes communication truth privacy social interaction Mood witty critical Type philosophical observational When to use this quote - debates - conflict resolution - media interviews - personal conversations Key Concepts rhetoric social norms interpersonal dynamics Questions to Reflect On - What questions have you answered that revealed too much? - How can you frame answers to protect privacy? A Different Perspective Answers may expose more than intended, risking indiscretion. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Indiscreet Answers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indiscreet-answers-3396492/) [Oscar wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oscar-wilde/) [Question Indiscreet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/question-indiscreet-3396491/) [Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wilde/) [Wilde Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wilde-said-1575081/) ## Related quotes > [“- Oscar Wilde said that we always destroy the thing we love the most. And it is true. The simple possibility of achieving that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/oscar-wilde-said-that-we-always-destroy-the-thing-we-love-the-most/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [You know what Oscar Wilde said, ma'am? He said, "nothing that is worth knowing can be taught". Nothing personal, ma'am... Carry on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-m-schulz/you-know-what-oscar-wilde-said-ma-am-he-said-nothing-that-is-worth/) [Charles M. Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-m-schulz/) > [As Oscar Wilde should have said, when bad ideas have nowhere else to go, they emigrate to America and become university courses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-raphael/as-oscar-wilde-should-have-said-when-bad-ideas-have-nowhere-else-to/) [Frederic Raphael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-raphael/) > [Oscar Wilde said the rich and the poor are equal - they can both sleep under the bridge. Right? Do they have a right?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-lewis/oscar-wilde-said-the-rich-and-the-poor-are-equal-they-can-both-sleep/) [Al Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-lewis/) > [I remember when I posed as a customs officer so that I could meet Oscar Wilde. I said to him "Have you anything to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-munnery/i-remember-when-i-posed-as-a-customs-officer-so-that-i-could-meet/) [Simon Munnery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-munnery/) > [“Oscar Wilde said: 'Biography lends to death a new terror.' Well, memoir adds that same promise to parenting.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/oscar-wilde-said-biography-lends-to-death-a-new-terror-well-memoir/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The truth of it was, I'd been running the wrong experiment my whole life, and while Cassidy was the first person to realize, she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-schneider/the-truth-of-it-was-i-d-been-running-the-wrong-experiment-my-whole/) [Robyn Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn-schneider/) > [Dr. Seuss said, 'No one can be you-er than you,' and Oscar Wilde said, 'Be yourself because everyone else is taken.' So I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martellus-bennett/dr-seuss-said-no-one-can-be-you-er-than-you-and-oscar-wilde-said-be/) [Martellus Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martellus-bennett/) > [“Oscar Wilde said: 'Each man kills the thing he loves.' And it's true. The mere possibility of getting what we want fills the soul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/oscar-wilde-said-each-man-kills-the-thing-he-loves-and-it-s-true-the/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Questions are never indiscreet, answers sometimes are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/questions-are-never-indiscreet-answers-sometimes-are/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [More trouble is caused in this world by indiscreet answers than by indiscreet questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/more-trouble-is-caused-in-this-world-by-indiscreet-answers-than-by/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [“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/) ## More by Janet Evanovich > [“His pager beeped, and he looked at the readout. “I have to get back to Deal. Do you have any secret weapons in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/his-pager-beeped-and-he-looked-at-the-readout-i-have-to-get-back-to/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) > [You gonna take the case?" It's not a case. It's a missing person. Sort of." You're gonna have a devil of a time finding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/you-gonna-take-the-case-it-s-not-a-case-it-s-a-missing-person-sort-of/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) > [Are we fighting?" I asked Morelli. "No. Were discussing." "Are you sure?" "Am I yelling?" Morelli asked. "Is my face purple? Are the cords…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/are-we-fighting-i-asked-morelli-no-were-discussing-are-you-sure-am-i/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) > [“changed expression. Wariness, maybe. I felt a body move so close it was skimming my own, and a warm hand protectively settled at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/changed-expression-wariness-maybe-i-felt-a-body-move-so-close-it-was/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) > [I need to look like an idiot at least twice a day to keep myself humble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/i-need-to-look-like-an-idiot-at-least-twice-a-day-to-keep-myself/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) > [Mooner was walking around laying his hands on the cars, divining karma. "this is it", he said, standing by a small khaki-colored jeep."this car…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/mooner-was-walking-around-laying-his-hands-on-the-cars-divining-karma/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) > [“Ranger was waiting. He was dressed in black slacks, a form-fitting black T-shirt, and a black blazer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/ranger-was-waiting-he-was-dressed-in-black-slacks-a-form-fitting/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) > [I guessed my mother figured if my father got right down to the task of eating he wouldn’t be so inclined to jump up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/i-guessed-my-mother-figured-if-my-father-got-right-down-to-the-task/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) > [You can get through very serious and sometimes horrible and sometimes embarrassing and very awkward situations with humor. It gives us a way out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/you-can-get-through-very-serious-and-sometimes-horrible-and-sometimes/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) > [Way back before the 'Alex Barnaby' series was first published, we were talking with Dark Horse then about making it into a graphic novel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/way-back-before-the-alex-barnaby-series-was-first-published-we-were/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) > [I made a choice that I was not going to be a pretentious writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/i-made-a-choice-that-i-was-not-going-to-be-a-pretentious-writer/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) > [“He wears jeans, untucked shirts, and a Glock 19, and he has a big shaggy dog named Bob.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/he-wears-jeans-untucked-shirts-and-a-glock-19-and-he-has-a-big-shaggy/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) > [I write to entertain. When people read one of my books I want them to finish with a smile on their faces, feeling a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/i-write-to-entertain-when-people-read-one-of-my-books-i-want-them-to/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) > [“I hate shopping for clothes," Kate said. "I liked when I was in the military and all I needed was camouflage gear." "Shopping can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/i-hate-shopping-for-clothes-kate-said-i-liked-when-i-was-in-the/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) > [“I’m told there’s a paint specialist in Denver who does wonderful work,” Judy said. “I’ve started a GoFundMe page for Mr. Murphy.” “That’s a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/i-m-told-there-s-a-paint-specialist-in-denver-who-does-wonderful-work/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) [Explore all 726 Janet Evanovich quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) ## More Oscar wilde 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/) > [Every fact of science was once Damned. Every invention was considered impossible. Every discovery was a nervous shock to some orthodoxy. Every artistic innovation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-anton-wilson/every-fact-of-science-was-once-damned-every-invention-was-considered/) [Robert Anton Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-anton-wilson/) > [What people call insincerity is simply a method by which we can multiply our personalities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/what-people-call-insincerity-is-simply-a-method-by-which-we-can/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“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: '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/) > [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/) > [“Photographs are the reflection of untold stories, unseen beauties, unexpressed emotions, and the unheard songs of life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/photographs-are-the-reflection-of-untold-stories-unseen-beauties/) [Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/) > [“absinthe removes the bitter taste of failure and grants me strange visions which are charming principally because they cannot be written down. Only in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ackroyd/absinthe-removes-the-bitter-taste-of-failure-and-grants-me-strange/) [Peter Ackroyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ackroyd/) > [“Those who pay their bills on time are soon forgotten. It is only by not paying one's bills that one can hope to live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gyles-brandreth/those-who-pay-their-bills-on-time-are-soon-forgotten-it-is-only-by/) [Gyles Brandreth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gyles-brandreth/) > [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/) > [“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/) > [“Darwin and Nietzsche were the common spiritual and intellectual source for the mean-spirited and bellicose ideological assault on progress, liberalism, and democracy that fired…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arno-j-mayer/darwin-and-nietzsche-were-the-common-spiritual-and-intellectual/) [Arno J. Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arno-j-mayer/) > [“Te voy a enseñar mi alma, vas a ver lo que creías que sólo Dios puede ver.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/te-voy-a-ense-ar-mi-alma-vas-a-ver-lo-que-cre-as-que-s-lo-dios-puede/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [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/) > [“He was a man of most subtle and refined intellect. A man of culture, charm, and distinction. One of the most intellectual men I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/he-was-a-man-of-most-subtle-and-refined-intellect-a-man-of-culture/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) [Browse all 177 Oscar wilde quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oscar-wilde/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Oscar Wilde said it's never the question that's indiscreet, only the answers.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Janet Evanovich" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/oscar-wilde-said-it-s-never-the-question-that-s-indiscreet-only-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Oscar wilde" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/oscar-wilde-said-it-s-never-the-question-that-s-indiscreet-only-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ab/janet-evanovich-291_oscar-wilde_oscar-wilde-said-it-s-never-the-question_1171263.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ab/janet-evanovich-291_oscar-wilde_oscar-wilde-said-it-s-never-the-question_1171263.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ab/janet-evanovich-291_oscar-wilde_oscar-wilde-said-it-s-never-the-question_1171263.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Oscar Wilde said it's never the question that's indiscreet, only the answers.” — Janet Evanovich", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Janet Evanovich", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Oscar Wilde said it's never the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/oscar-wilde-said-it-s-never-the-question-that-s-indiscreet-only-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/oscar-wilde-said-it-s-never-the-question-that-s-indiscreet-only-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```