Appetite Quote by Oscar Wilde
“Behind joy and laughter there may be a temperament, coarse, hard and callous. But behind sorrow there is always sorrow. Pain, unlike pleasure, wears no mask. ... For this reason there is no truth comparable to sorrow. There are times when sorrow seems to me to be the only truth. Other things may be illusions of the eye or the appetite, made to blind the one and cloy the other, but out of sorrow have the worlds been built, and at the birth of a child or a star there is pain.”
About This Quote
Source Play: Lady Windermere's Fan, 1892
Sorrow is the raw, unmasked truth of existence, while joy can be a façade; pain underlies creation and reality.
In simple terms: Sorrow reveals truth; joy may hide it.
Key Takeaway
Embrace pain as a source of authenticity.
Themes
truth
pain
authenticity
illusion
creation
Mood
melancholic
reflective
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- Grief counseling
- creative writing
- personal reflection
- spiritual practice
Key Concepts
Existentialism
human condition
philosophy
Questions to Reflect On
- How does acknowledging pain change your perception of joy?
- What truths have you discovered through sorrow?
A Different Perspective
Sorrow can be overwhelming and may hinder growth if not processed.
