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Hope Quote by Oscar Wilde

“In the wild struggle for existence, we want to have something that endures, and so we fill our minds with rubbish and facts, in the silly hope of keeping our place. The thoroughly well-informed man—that is the modern ideal. And the mind of the thoroughly well-informed man is a dreadful thing. It…” quote by Oscar Wilde
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““In the wild struggle for existence, we want to have something that endures, and so we fill our minds with rubbish and facts, in the silly hope of keeping our place. The thoroughly well-informed man—that is the modern ideal. And the mind of the thoroughly well-informed man is a dreadful thing. It is like a bric-à-brac shop, all monsters and dust, with everything priced above its proper value.””

Oscar Wilde

About This Quote

Source Speech: The Decay of Modern Knowledge, 1895

The quote critiques modern obsession with information overload, suggesting it creates a chaotic mind filled with trivialities that obscure true meaning.

In simple terms: Too much information clutters the mind and distracts from lasting value.

Key Takeaway

Seek depth over breadth in learning.

Themes

information overload modernity meaning knowledge value

Mood

critical reflective

Type

philosophical observational

When to use this quote

  • academic research
  • personal reflection
  • media consumption
  • education
  • decision making

Key Concepts

consumerism intellectualism existentialism

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does information overload affect your daily decisions?
  • What practices help you prioritize meaningful knowledge?
A Different Perspective

It may undervalue the benefits of being well-informed in certain contexts.

4.9 out of 5 (6 ratings)

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