Able Quote by Oscar Wilde
“Words! Mere words! How terrible they were! How clear, and vivid, and cruel! One could not escape from them. And yet what a subtle magic there was in them! They seemed to be able to give a plastic form to formless things, and to have a music of their own as sweet as that of viol or of lute. Mere words! Was there anything so real as words?”
About This Quote
Source Play: Lady Windermere's Fan by Oscar Wilde, 1892
Words possess power to shape perception, evoke emotion, and give form to the intangible, yet they can also trap and harm.
In simple terms: Words are powerful and can be both beautiful and dangerous.
Key Takeaway
Choose words wisely.
Themes
communication
power
language
Mood
cautionary
insightful
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- writing
- debate
- teaching
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
rhetoric
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- What impact have your words had on others?
- When do you hold back to avoid harm?
A Different Perspective
Words can be misinterpreted or weaponized.
