--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Be warned in time, James, and remain, as…" description: "\"Be warned in time, James, and remain, as I do, incomprehensible: to be great is to be misunderstood.\" — Oscar Wilde" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8b/oscar-wilde-16_incomprehensible_be-warned-in-time-james-and-remain-as-i_241886.jpg" --- # Be warned in time, James, and remain, as I do… ![“Be warned in time, James, and remain, as I do, incomprehensible: to be great is to be misunderstood.” quote by Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8b/oscar-wilde-16_incomprehensible_be-warned-in-time-james-and-remain-as-i_241886.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8b/oscar-wilde-16_incomprehensible_be-warned-in-time-james-and-remain-as-i_241886.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8b/oscar-wilde-16_incomprehensible_be-warned-in-time-james-and-remain-as-i_241886.jpg) > “Be warned in time, James, and remain, as I do, incomprehensible: to be great is to be misunderstood.” [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Greatness often leads to misunderstanding; being unique can alienate others, yet it is essential for true achievement. **In simple terms:** Being great can make you misunderstood. Key Takeaway Embrace originality despite misinterpretation. Themes individuality misunderstanding greatness Mood defiant reflective Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - public speaking - innovative work - leadership roles Key Concepts philosophy art society Questions to Reflect On - Do you fear being misunderstood? - How can you communicate your vision clearly? A Different Perspective Societal pressure may force conformity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Misunderstood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misunderstood/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [To be great is to be misunderstood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/to-be-great-is-to-be-misunderstood/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“Misunderstood! It is a right fool's word. Is it so bad then to be misunderstood? Pythagoras was misunderstood, and Socrates, and Jesus, and Luther,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/misunderstood-it-is-a-right-fool-s-word-is-it-so-bad-then-to-be/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“Ah, so you shall be sure to be misunderstood." -Is it so bad, then to be misunderstood? Pythagoras was misunderstood, and Socrates, and Jesus,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/ah-so-you-shall-be-sure-to-be-misunderstood-is-it-so-bad-then-to-be/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [To be great, you must be misunderstood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/to-be-great-you-must-be-misunderstood/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [To be misunderstood even by those whom one loves is the cross and bitterness of life. It is the secret of that sad and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-frederic-amiel/to-be-misunderstood-even-by-those-whom-one-loves-is-the-cross-and-2/) [Henri Frederic Amiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-frederic-amiel/) > [Is it so bad, then, to be misunderstood? Pythagoras was misunderstood, and Socrates, and Jesus, and Luther, and Copernicus, and Galileo, and Newton, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/is-it-so-bad-then-to-be-misunderstood-pythagoras-was-misunderstood/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines. With consistency a great soul has simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-foolish-consistency-is-the-hobgoblin-of-little-minds-adored-by-3/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“With consistency a great soul has simply nothing to do. He may as well concern himself with his shadow on the wall. Speak what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/with-consistency-a-great-soul-has-simply-nothing-to-do-he-may-as-well-2/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The simplicity of your character makes you exquisitely incomprehensible to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-simplicity-of-your-character-makes-you-exquisitely/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [I am but too conscious of the fact that we are born in an age when only the dull are treated seriously, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/i-am-but-too-conscious-of-the-fact-that-we-are-born-in-an-age-when/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [As it was, we always misunderstood ourselves and rarely understood others. Experience was of no ethical value. It was merely the name men gave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/as-it-was-we-always-misunderstood-ourselves-and-rarely-understood/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [I live constantly in the fear of not being misunderstood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/i-live-constantly-in-the-fear-of-not-being-misunderstood/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [He is fond of being misunderstood. It gives him a post of vantage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/he-is-fond-of-being-misunderstood-it-gives-him-a-post-of-vantage/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Never mind what I say. I am always saying what I shouldn't say. In fact, I usually say what I really think. A great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/never-mind-what-i-say-i-am-always-saying-what-i-shouldn-t-say-in-fact/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“All the same I keep on looking for someone incomprehensible who won't understand me either, because I have a terrible thirst for brotherhood”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emile-ajar/all-the-same-i-keep-on-looking-for-someone-incomprehensible-who-won-t/) Emile Ajar ## More by Oscar Wilde > [How else but through a broken heart may Lord Christ enter in?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/how-else-but-through-a-broken-heart-may-lord-christ-enter-in/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [The books that the world calls immoral are the books that show the world its own shame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-books-that-the-world-calls-immoral-are-the-books-that-show-the/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Bachelors should be heavily taxed. It is not fair that some men should be happier than others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/bachelors-should-be-heavily-taxed-it-is-not-fair-that-some-men-should/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Who, being loved, is poor?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/who-being-loved-is-poor/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Basil my dear boy puts everything that is charming in him into his work. The consequence is that he has nothing left for life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/basil-my-dear-boy-puts-everything-that-is-charming-in-him-into-his/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Anybody can be good in the country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/anybody-can-be-good-in-the-country/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [I don't at all like knowing what people say of me behind my back. It makes me far too conceited.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/i-don-t-at-all-like-knowing-what-people-say-of-me-behind-my-back-it/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Alles Populäre ist falsch.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/alles-popul-re-ist-falsch/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“If these elements of beauty are real, the whole thing simply appeals to our sense of dramatic effect. Suddenly we find that we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/if-these-elements-of-beauty-are-real-the-whole-thing-simply-appeals/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [To love one's self is the beginning of a life-long romance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/to-love-one-s-self-is-the-beginning-of-a-life-long-romance/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Those who find beautiful meanings in beautiful things are the cultivated. For these there is hope.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/those-who-find-beautiful-meanings-in-beautiful-things-are-the/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Men always want to be a womans first love. Women have a more subtle instinct: What they like is to be a mans last…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/men-always-want-to-be-a-womans-first-love-women-have-a-more-subtle/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Why is it that at a bachelor's establishment the servants invariably drink the champagne.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/why-is-it-that-at-a-bachelor-s-establishment-the-servants-invariably/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Moderation is a fatal thing. Enough is as bad as a meal. More than enough is as good as a feast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/moderation-is-a-fatal-thing-enough-is-as-bad-as-a-meal-more-than/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Beauty is the only thing that time cannot harm. Philosophies fall away like sand, creeds follow one another, but what is beautiful is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/beauty-is-the-only-thing-that-time-cannot-harm-philosophies-fall-away/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) [Explore all 3,343 Oscar Wilde quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) ## More Incomprehensible quotes > [“All the same I keep on looking for someone incomprehensible who won't understand me either, because I have a terrible thirst for brotherhood”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emile-ajar/all-the-same-i-keep-on-looking-for-someone-incomprehensible-who-won-t/) Emile Ajar > [To say that a work of art is good, but incomprehensible to the majority of men, is the same as saying of some kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/to-say-that-a-work-of-art-is-good-but-incomprehensible-to-the/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“O how incomprehensible everything was, and actually sad, although it was also beautiful. One knew nothing. One lived and ran about the earth and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-hesse/o-how-incomprehensible-everything-was-and-actually-sad-although-it/) [Herman Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-hesse/) > [I know by myself how incomprehensible God is, seeing I cannot comprehend the parts of my own being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-of-clairvaux/i-know-by-myself-how-incomprehensible-god-is-seeing-i-cannot/) [Bernard of Clairvaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-of-clairvaux/) > [I do not want to found anything on the incomprehensible. I want to know whether I can live with what I know and with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/i-do-not-want-to-found-anything-on-the-incomprehensible-i-want-to/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [He has to live in the midst of the incomprehensible, which is also detestable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-conrad/he-has-to-live-in-the-midst-of-the-incomprehensible-which-is-also/) [Joseph Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-conrad/) > [Sometimes people accuse me of being incomprehensible only because they look for an explicative side to my pictures which is not there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gauguin/sometimes-people-accuse-me-of-being-incomprehensible-only-because/) [Paul Gauguin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gauguin/) > [In Tasmania, an island the size of Ireland whose primeval forests astonished 19th-century Europeans, an incomprehensible ecological tragedy is being played out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-flanagan/in-tasmania-an-island-the-size-of-ireland-whose-primeval-forests/) [Richard Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-flanagan/) > [You can't explain the unknown in terms of the incomprehensible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-schick/you-can-t-explain-the-unknown-in-terms-of-the-incomprehensible/) Theodore Schick > [Incomprehensible jargon is the hallmark of a profession.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kingman-brewster-jr/incomprehensible-jargon-is-the-hallmark-of-a-profession/) [Kingman Brewster, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kingman-brewster-jr/) > [What I like best about your system? It is as incomprehensible as the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-i-like-best-about-your-system-it-is-as-incomprehensible-as-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It is always incomprehensible to a man that a woman should ever refuse an offer of marriage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/it-is-always-incomprehensible-to-a-man-that-a-woman-should-ever/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [“Belief acts as a temporary bridge when we are trying to accept something that seems incomprehensible. We use belief and simply accept the workings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-m-browning/belief-acts-as-a-temporary-bridge-when-we-are-trying-to-accept/) [L.M. Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-m-browning/) > [I accept that there may be things far grander and more incomprehensible than we can possibly imagine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/i-accept-that-there-may-be-things-far-grander-and-more/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [When the nature of the thing is incomprehensible, I can acquiesce in the Scripture: but when the signification of words is incomprehensible, I cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/when-the-nature-of-the-thing-is-incomprehensible-i-can-acquiesce-in/) [Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/) Browse all 120 Incomprehensible quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Be warned in time, James, and remain, as I do, incomprehensible: to be great is to be misunderstood.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Oscar Wilde" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/be-warned-in-time-james-and-remain-as-i-do-incomprehensible-to-be/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Incomprehensible" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/be-warned-in-time-james-and-remain-as-i-do-incomprehensible-to-be/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8b/oscar-wilde-16_incomprehensible_be-warned-in-time-james-and-remain-as-i_241886.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8b/oscar-wilde-16_incomprehensible_be-warned-in-time-james-and-remain-as-i_241886.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8b/oscar-wilde-16_incomprehensible_be-warned-in-time-james-and-remain-as-i_241886.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Be warned in time, James, and remain, as I do, incomprehensible: to be great is to be misunderstood.” — Oscar Wilde", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Oscar Wilde", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Be warned in time, James, and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/be-warned-in-time-james-and-remain-as-i-do-incomprehensible-to-be/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/be-warned-in-time-james-and-remain-as-i-do-incomprehensible-to-be/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```