Retiring Quote by Oscar Wilde
““I await the revises, and promise you not to 'make my quietus with a bare bodkin' till I have returned them. After that, I think of retiring. But first I would like to dine with you here. To leave life as one leaves a feast is not merely philosophy but romance.””
About This Quote
Source Play: A Woman of No Importance, 1893
He playfully mixes Shakespearean drama with romantic longing, suggesting that ending life like a feast—joyful and complete—is both philosophical and romantic.
In simple terms: Live life fully, like enjoying a feast.
Key Takeaway
Savor experiences before they end.
Themes
life
romance
philosophy
Mood
melancholic
hopeful
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- relationships
- personal fulfillment
- artistic expression
Key Concepts
existentialism
joy
literary allusion
Questions to Reflect On
- What does “leaving life as a feast” mean to you?
- Can romance coexist with philosophical resignation?
A Different Perspective
Romantic idealism may ignore practical hardships.
