--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Even men of the noblest possible moral…" description: "\"Even men of the noblest possible moral character are extremely susceptible to the influence of the physical charms of others. Modern, no less then Anci..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eba/oscar-wilde-16_ancient_even-men-of-the-noblest-possible-moral-c_2357005.jpg" --- # Even men of the noblest possible moral character are… ![“Even men of the noblest possible moral character are extremely susceptible to the influence of the physical charms of others. Modern, no less then Ancient History, supplies us with many most painful examples of what I refer to. If it were not so, indeed, History would be quite unreadable.” quote by Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eba/oscar-wilde-16_ancient_even-men-of-the-noblest-possible-moral-c_2357005.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eba/oscar-wilde-16_ancient_even-men-of-the-noblest-possible-moral-c_2357005.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eba/oscar-wilde-16_ancient_even-men-of-the-noblest-possible-moral-c_2357005.jpg) > “Even men of the noblest possible moral character are extremely susceptible to the influence of the physical charms of others. Modern, no less then Ancient History, supplies us with many most painful examples of what I refer to. If it were not so, indeed, History would be quite unreadable.” [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. People, even virtuous ones, are easily swayed by physical attractiveness, shaping history's narratives. **In simple terms:** Physical attraction can corrupt even the most moral people. Key Takeaway Beware of letting appearance dictate judgment. Themes morality human nature history attraction Mood cautious reflective Type analytical critical When to use this quote - political analysis - personal relationships - leadership decisions - media criticism Key Concepts psychology social influence ethical vulnerability Questions to Reflect On - How do we guard against superficial influences? - Can moral character be truly independent of appearance? A Different Perspective Attraction can be manipulated, leading to biased outcomes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ancient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancient/) [Ancient history](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancient-history/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Character Extremely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character-extremely-2103108/) [Charm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/charm/) [Example](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/example/) [Influence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/influence/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Men Noblest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-noblest-5758620/) [Modern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/modern/) [Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral/) [Moral character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral-character/) [Noblest Possible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/noblest-possible-5758621/) [Painful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painful/) [Possible Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possible-moral-952747/) [Supplies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/supplies/) [Would be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would-be/) ## Related quotes > [Sameera, my character in 'Take Off,' was extremely intense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parvathy/sameera-my-character-in-take-off-was-extremely-intense/) [Parvathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parvathy/) > [In this work I have received the opposition of a number of men who only advocate the unobtainable because the immediately possible is beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burns/in-this-work-i-have-received-the-opposition-of-a-number-of-men-who/) [John Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burns/) > [A patriot without religion in my estimation is as great a paradox as an honest Man without the fear of God. 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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. 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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 Ancient quotes > [“We ought to know the history of our ancient ancestors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/we-ought-to-know-the-history-of-our-ancient-ancestors/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [In ancient times, those who wished to illuminate the world with virtue first brought order to their nations. 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I feel shrunken, as if there's a tiny ancient Oliver Tate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-dunthorne/i-don-t-know-if-i-ve-come-of-age-but-i-m-certainly-older-now-i-feel/) [Joe Dunthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-dunthorne/) > [Tentatively I stood a great lump of wood on the chopping block and bought the axe down on it. It flew into two perfect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-garner/tentatively-i-stood-a-great-lump-of-wood-on-the-chopping-block-and/) [Helen Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-garner/) > [Men must speak English who can write Sanskrit; they must speak a modern language who write, perchance, an ancient and universal one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/men-must-speak-english-who-can-write-sanskrit-they-must-speak-a/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The Tao is the center of the universe, the good man's treasure, the bad man's refuge. 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