Apes Quote by Oscar Wilde
“Thin-lipped wisdom spoke at her from the worn chair, hinted at prudence, quoted from that book of cowardice whose author apes the name of common sense.”
About This Quote
Source Literature: The Picture of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde, 1890
A critique of shallow advice that pretends to be wise but is rooted in fear and conformity.
In simple terms: Fake wisdom hides fear and conformity.
Key Takeaway
Question advice and seek authentic insight.
Themes
wisdom
prudence
authenticity
Mood
skeptical
reflective
Type
philosophical
critical
literary
When to use this quote
- personal decisions
- leadership
- education
- media consumption
- relationship advice
Key Concepts
critical thinking
social conformity
fear of judgment
Questions to Reflect On
- What advice have you accepted without questioning?
- How can you distinguish true wisdom from mere conformity?
A Different Perspective
May overlook genuine insight in favor of comfort.
![“Perhaps no order of mammals presents us with so extraordinary a series of gradations as this [step by step, from humans to apes to monkeys to lemurs] - leading us insensibly from the crown and summit of the animal creation down to creatures, from which there is but a step, as it seems, to the…” quote by Thomas Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f0b/thomas-huxley-1183_animal_perhaps-no-order-of-mammals-presents-us_3051.jpg)
