--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One must be serious about something, if…" description: "\"“One must be serious about something, if one wants to have any amusement in life.”\" — John Cooper Oscar Wilde" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ea/john-cooper-oscar-wilde-249056_amusement_one-must-be-serious-about-something-if-o_2286501.jpg" --- # One must be serious about something, if one wants to have… ![“One must be serious about something, if one wants to have any amusement in life.” quote by John Cooper Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ea/john-cooper-oscar-wilde-249056_amusement_one-must-be-serious-about-something-if-o_2286501.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ea/john-cooper-oscar-wilde-249056_amusement_one-must-be-serious-about-something-if-o_2286501.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ea/john-cooper-oscar-wilde-249056_amusement_one-must-be-serious-about-something-if-o_2286501.jpg) > ““One must be serious about something, if one wants to have any amusement in life.”” John Cooper Oscar Wilde ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Seriousness is required to enjoy true amusement in life. **In simple terms:** Take life seriously to truly enjoy fun. Key Takeaway Balance seriousness and play. Themes Seriousness Amusement Life Balance Perspective Mood thoughtful playful Type quotational philosophical When to use this quote - Career choices - Creative hobbies - Personal development - Leisure planning Key Concepts Philosophy Humor Self‑discipline Joy Questions to Reflect On - How do you integrate seriousness with fun? - What activities bring you genuine amusement? A Different Perspective Too much seriousness can stifle spontaneity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Amusement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amusement/) [Enjoyment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enjoyment/) [Hobbies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hobbies/) [Hobby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hobby/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Seriousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seriousness/) ## Related quotes > [Well, one must be serious about something, if one wants to have any amusement in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/well-one-must-be-serious-about-something-if-one-wants-to-have-any/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [That's a hobby of mine - to do whatever I can for unusual for-hire creative projects. I am waiting for someone to really challenge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-coppola/that-s-a-hobby-of-mine-to-do-whatever-i-can-for-unusual-for-hire/) [Roman Coppola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-coppola/) > [I studied psychology for a couple of years as a personal hobby, so you start learning about people and listening to your intuition, like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/afrojack/i-studied-psychology-for-a-couple-of-years-as-a-personal-hobby-so-you/) [Afrojack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/afrojack/) > [I do the things I like to do. It's sort of a bigger version of having more than one hobby.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-connick-jr/i-do-the-things-i-like-to-do-it-s-sort-of-a-bigger-version-of-having/) [Harry Connick, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-connick-jr/) > [People choose to read, and it takes effort. It's not one of those hobbies that asks nothing of the person who is doing it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/people-choose-to-read-and-it-takes-effort-it-s-not-one-of-those/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [I started writing songs when I was 10. It was a natural way to express myself as a kid. It wasn't until I started…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimbra/i-started-writing-songs-when-i-was-10-it-was-a-natural-way-to-express/) [Kimbra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimbra/) > [The secret to enjoying your job is to have a hobby that's even worse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-watterson/the-secret-to-enjoying-your-job-is-to-have-a-hobby-that-s-even-worse/) [Bill Watterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-watterson/) > [I have said this many times in the past and will say it many times in the future I am sure: some people need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-wales/i-have-said-this-many-times-in-the-past-and-will-say-it-many-times-in/) [Jimmy Wales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-wales/) > [No man is really happy or safe without a hobby ...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-osler/no-man-is-really-happy-or-safe-without-a-hobby/) [William Osler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-osler/) > [A lot of my time is spent watching films and reading scripts. And it can be all-consuming. And it's obviously something I'm fortunate that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicity-jones/a-lot-of-my-time-is-spent-watching-films-and-reading-scripts-and-it/) [Felicity Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicity-jones/) > [Watching movies, making quotes, cooking,and singing is my hobbies.how about yours? enjoy life and make your life style very enjoyable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-alapan/watching-movies-making-quotes-cooking-and-singing-is-my-hobbies-how/) [Mitch Alapan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-alapan/) > [I am essentially a hack, a commercial person. If I had a hobby, I would immediately make money on it or abandon it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-welles/i-am-essentially-a-hack-a-commercial-person-if-i-had-a-hobby-i-would/) [Orson Welles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-welles/) > [“You know, people start things for different reasons. But ultimately it turns into pure passion and one becomes insatiate. There is no end once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhaidev/you-know-people-start-things-for-different-reasons-but-ultimately-it/) [Abhaidev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhaidev/) > [I wouldn't call girls a hobby. It's a pastime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-presley/i-wouldn-t-call-girls-a-hobby-it-s-a-pastime/) [Elvis Presley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-presley/) > [Without a customer, you don't have a business - all you have is a hobby.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-peppers/without-a-customer-you-don-t-have-a-business-all-you-have-is-a-hobby/) [Don Peppers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-peppers/) ## More Amusement quotes > [Cultivate the habit of thinking ahead, and of anticipating the necessary and immediate consequences of all your actions… Likewise in your pleasures, ask yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/cultivate-the-habit-of-thinking-ahead-and-of-anticipating-the/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [Ancient eyes had stared at me, filled with ancient grief. And something more. Something so alien and unexpected that I'd almost burst into tears.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/ancient-eyes-had-stared-at-me-filled-with-ancient-grief-and-something/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [Every producer in Hollywood had set me down as a type. I was both amused and disappointed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bela-lugosi/every-producer-in-hollywood-had-set-me-down-as-a-type-i-was-both/) [Bela Lugosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bela-lugosi/) > [By amusing myself with all these games, all this nonsense, all these picture puzzles, I became famous... I am only a public entertainer who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/by-amusing-myself-with-all-these-games-all-this-nonsense-all-these/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [I just started writing for my own amusement and occasionally singing in little clubs around Los Angeles. Then I wrote 'The Rose,' and through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-mcbroom/i-just-started-writing-for-my-own-amusement-and-occasionally-singing/) [Amanda McBroom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-mcbroom/) > [Happiness does not consist in pastimes and amusements but in virtuous activities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/happiness-does-not-consist-in-pastimes-and-amusements-but-in-virtuous/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation. What is called resignation is confirmed desperation. From the desperate city you go into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-mass-of-men-lead-lives-of-quiet-desperation-what-is-called/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Ordinary people simply don't know what books mean to us, shut up here. Reading, learning, and the radio are our amusements.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-frank/ordinary-people-simply-don-t-know-what-books-mean-to-us-shut-up-here/) [Anne Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-frank/) > [My first job was at an amusement park in Virginia. It was the worst. I loved the park but once I'd worked there all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-mcbride/my-first-job-was-at-an-amusement-park-in-virginia-it-was-the-worst-i/) [Danny McBride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-mcbride/) > [The Stoics say, "Retire within yourselves; it is there you will find your rest." And that is not true. Others say, "Go out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/the-stoics-say-retire-within-yourselves-it-is-there-you-will-find/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [I realized, "Gee, you're making the same film over and over here." I just kept making them for my own amusement, but also with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-jarmusch/i-realized-gee-you-re-making-the-same-film-over-and-over-here-i-just/) [Jim Jarmusch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-jarmusch/) > [I like these boots," I told Vayl. "Do you think they'd sell them to me cheap? I keep ruining mine." "Since when do you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-rardin/i-like-these-boots-i-told-vayl-do-you-think-they-d-sell-them-to-me/) [Jennifer Rardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-rardin/) > [It has to be now,” he insisted, a flick of amusement in his voice. He nudged his burgeoning loins against her. “After all, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/it-has-to-be-now-he-insisted-a-flick-of-amusement-in-his-voice-he/) [Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/) > [Act as if the universe is a prodigious miracle created for your amusement and illumination. Assume that secret helpers are working behind the scenes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-brezsny/act-as-if-the-universe-is-a-prodigious-miracle-created-for-your/) [Rob Brezsny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-brezsny/) > [Amusement that is excessive and followed only for its own sake, allures and deceives us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/amusement-that-is-excessive-and-followed-only-for-its-own-sake/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) [Browse all 567 Amusement quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amusement/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“One must be serious about something, if one wants to have any amusement in life.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Cooper Oscar Wilde" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cooper-oscar-wilde/one-must-be-serious-about-something-if-one-wants-to-have-any/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Amusement" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cooper-oscar-wilde/one-must-be-serious-about-something-if-one-wants-to-have-any/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ea/john-cooper-oscar-wilde-249056_amusement_one-must-be-serious-about-something-if-o_2286501.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ea/john-cooper-oscar-wilde-249056_amusement_one-must-be-serious-about-something-if-o_2286501.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ea/john-cooper-oscar-wilde-249056_amusement_one-must-be-serious-about-something-if-o_2286501.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“One must be serious about something, if one wants to have any amusement in life.” — John Cooper Oscar Wilde", "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": "John Cooper Oscar Wilde", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cooper-oscar-wilde/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“One must be serious about something,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cooper-oscar-wilde/one-must-be-serious-about-something-if-one-wants-to-have-any/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cooper-oscar-wilde/one-must-be-serious-about-something-if-one-wants-to-have-any/#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 } } ] } ```