--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Early in life she had discovered the…" description: "\"Early in life she had discovered the important truth that nothing looks so like innocence as an indiscretion; and by a series of reckless escapades, ha..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c5/oscar-wilde-16_escapade_early-in-life-she-had-discovered-the-imp_1579346.jpg" --- # Early in life she had discovered the important truth that… ![“Early in life she had discovered the important truth that nothing looks so like innocence as an indiscretion; and by a series of reckless escapades, half of them quite harmless, she had acquired all the privileges of a personality.” quote by Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c5/oscar-wilde-16_escapade_early-in-life-she-had-discovered-the-imp_1579346.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c5/oscar-wilde-16_escapade_early-in-life-she-had-discovered-the-imp_1579346.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c5/oscar-wilde-16_escapade_early-in-life-she-had-discovered-the-imp_1579346.jpg) > “Early in life she had discovered the important truth that nothing looks so like innocence as an indiscretion; and by a series of reckless escapades, half of them quite harmless, she had acquired all the privileges of a personality.” [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. She learns that mischievous acts can mask innocence and grant social freedom. **In simple terms:** Mischief can appear innocent and bring privilege. Key Takeaway Embrace boldness, but beware of reckless excess. Themes innocence rebellion social status Mood playful ironic Type literary observational When to use this quote - teenage rebellion - social climbing - personal branding Key Concepts psychology identity freedom Questions to Reflect On - How does reckless behavior affect how others see you? - When does freedom become a mask? A Different Perspective Privilege may be fragile and dependent on perception. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Escapade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/escapade/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Innocence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innocence/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Personality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personality/) [Privilege](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/privilege/) [Reckless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reckless/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [Nothing looks so like innocence as an indiscretion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/nothing-looks-so-like-innocence-as-an-indiscretion/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [But we were all young once. It passes, like innocence and a sense of fair play. The only thing left in the end is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/but-we-were-all-young-once-it-passes-like-innocence-and-a-sense-of/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [Now words like innocence Don't mean a thing You hear the music play But you can't sing Those pictures in your mind Keep you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-copeland/now-words-like-innocence-don-t-mean-a-thing-you-hear-the-music-play/) [Rachel Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-copeland/) > [High school is cool, especially that first-love mentality. That's what 'Sierra Burgess' captures is, like, his first moment of love. That's what I love.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-centineo/high-school-is-cool-especially-that-first-love-mentality-that-s-what/) [Noah Centineo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-centineo/) > [The innocence of childhood is like the innocence of a lot of animals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-eastwood/the-innocence-of-childhood-is-like-the-innocence-of-a-lot-of-animals/) [Clint Eastwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-eastwood/) > [There is no aphrodisiac like innocence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baudrillard/there-is-no-aphrodisiac-like-innocence/) [Jean Baudrillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baudrillard/) > [Individualism is rather like innocence: There must be something unconscious about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-kronenberger/individualism-is-rather-like-innocence-there-must-be-something/) [Louis Kronenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-kronenberger/) > [The more I read, the hungrier I become. Each book seemed promising, each page I turned offered an escapade, the allure of another world,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tatiana-de-rosnay/the-more-i-read-the-hungrier-i-become-each-book-seemed-promising-each/) [Tatiana de Rosnay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tatiana-de-rosnay/) > [Oh, yes, she's unusual!' he said bitterly. 'She blurts our whatever may come into her head;she tumbles from one outrageous escapade into another;she's happier…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/oh-yes-she-s-unusual-he-said-bitterly-she-blurts-our-whatever-may/) [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) > [“Some writers aren't writers, they are mere escapees' and refugees' on an exile from the jungle of thoughts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/some-writers-aren-t-writers-they-are-mere-escapees-and-refugees-on-an/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [When I was younger, many of my romantic escapades were just a means of simply avoiding being by myself. I was afraid of feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-zaslow/when-i-was-younger-many-of-my-romantic-escapades-were-just-a-means-of/) [Michael Zaslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-zaslow/) > [Most of my escapades were getting my Labrador dog into the back of my car to drive to Brooklyn where I worked at Avenue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-heche/most-of-my-escapades-were-getting-my-labrador-dog-into-the-back-of-my/) [Anne Heche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-heche/) > [Well, I’ve had my fun; I’ve had it, he thought, looking up at the swinging baskets of pale geraniums. And it was smashed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/well-i-ve-had-my-fun-i-ve-had-it-he-thought-looking-up-at-the/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [He with a graceful pride, While his rider every hand survey'd, Sprung loose, and flew into an escapade; Not moving forward, yet with every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/he-with-a-graceful-pride-while-his-rider-every-hand-survey-d-sprung/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [The archives recall not one single incriminating incident, not one drunken escapade, not one reported affair, not one spat with a team-mate or reporter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-atherton/the-archives-recall-not-one-single-incriminating-incident-not-one/) Michael Atherton ## 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 Escapade quotes > [The archives recall not one single incriminating incident, not one drunken escapade, not one reported affair, not one spat with a team-mate or reporter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-atherton/the-archives-recall-not-one-single-incriminating-incident-not-one/) Michael Atherton > [He with a graceful pride, While his rider every hand survey'd, Sprung loose, and flew into an escapade; Not moving forward, yet with every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/he-with-a-graceful-pride-while-his-rider-every-hand-survey-d-sprung/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Well, I’ve had my fun; I’ve had it, he thought, looking up at the swinging baskets of pale geraniums. And it was smashed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/well-i-ve-had-my-fun-i-ve-had-it-he-thought-looking-up-at-the/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [Most of my escapades were getting my Labrador dog into the back of my car to drive to Brooklyn where I worked at Avenue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-heche/most-of-my-escapades-were-getting-my-labrador-dog-into-the-back-of-my/) [Anne Heche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-heche/) > [When I was younger, many of my romantic escapades were just a means of simply avoiding being by myself. I was afraid of feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-zaslow/when-i-was-younger-many-of-my-romantic-escapades-were-just-a-means-of/) [Michael Zaslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-zaslow/) > [“Some writers aren't writers, they are mere escapees' and refugees' on an exile from the jungle of thoughts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/some-writers-aren-t-writers-they-are-mere-escapees-and-refugees-on-an/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [Oh, yes, she's unusual!' he said bitterly. 'She blurts our whatever may come into her head;she tumbles from one outrageous escapade into another;she's happier…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/oh-yes-she-s-unusual-he-said-bitterly-she-blurts-our-whatever-may/) [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) > [The more I read, the hungrier I become. Each book seemed promising, each page I turned offered an escapade, the allure of another world,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tatiana-de-rosnay/the-more-i-read-the-hungrier-i-become-each-book-seemed-promising-each/) [Tatiana de Rosnay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tatiana-de-rosnay/) > [As you follow the escapades or the journey of the hero through a story, it evokes some kind of emotion in the viewers. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-bluth/as-you-follow-the-escapades-or-the-journey-of-the-hero-through-a/) [Don Bluth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-bluth/) > [Save the troubles for another da haaJammin Escapade in the lot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-twist/save-the-troubles-for-another-da-haajammin-escapade-in-the-lot/) [Lil Twist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-twist/) > [He realized now that a lot of the problem had been his own mind, which was usually moving at a speed ten or twenty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/he-realized-now-that-a-lot-of-the-problem-had-been-his-own-mind-which/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [I go on many thrilling adventures and wondrous, profound escapades through books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/i-go-on-many-thrilling-adventures-and-wondrous-profound-escapades/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [But a public oration is an escapade, a non-committal, an apology, a gag, and not a communication, not a speech, not a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/but-a-public-oration-is-an-escapade-a-non-committal-an-apology-a-gag/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The court jester had the right to say the most outrageous things to the king. Everything was permitted during carnival, even the songs that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/the-court-jester-had-the-right-to-say-the-most-outrageous-things-to/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [place where man laughs, sings, picks flowers, chases butterflies and pets birds, makes love with maidens, and plays with children. Here he spontaneously reveals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/place-where-man-laughs-sings-picks-flowers-chases-butterflies-and/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) [Browse all 17 Escapade quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/escapade/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Early in life she had discovered the important truth that nothing looks so like innocence as an indiscretion; and by a series of reckless escapades, half of them quite harmless, she had acquired all the privileges of a personality.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Oscar Wilde" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/early-in-life-she-had-discovered-the-important-truth-that-nothing/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Escapade" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/early-in-life-she-had-discovered-the-important-truth-that-nothing/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c5/oscar-wilde-16_escapade_early-in-life-she-had-discovered-the-imp_1579346.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c5/oscar-wilde-16_escapade_early-in-life-she-had-discovered-the-imp_1579346.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c5/oscar-wilde-16_escapade_early-in-life-she-had-discovered-the-imp_1579346.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Early in life she had discovered the important truth that nothing looks so like innocence as an…” — 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": "Early in life she had discovered...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/early-in-life-she-had-discovered-the-important-truth-that-nothing/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/early-in-life-she-had-discovered-the-important-truth-that-nothing/#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 } } ] } ```