--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: How dreadful!\" cried Lord Harry. \"I can…" description: "\"“How dreadful!\" cried Lord Harry. \"I can stand brute force, but brute reason is quite unbearable. There is something unfair about its use. It is hittin..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6e/oscar-wilde-16_brute_how-dreadful-cried-lord-harry-i-can-stan_2485643.jpg" --- # How dreadful!" cried Lord Harry. "I can stand brute force… ![“How dreadful!" cried Lord Harry. "I can stand brute force, but brute reason is quite unbearable. There is something unfair about its use. It is hitting below the intellect.” quote by Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6e/oscar-wilde-16_brute_how-dreadful-cried-lord-harry-i-can-stan_2485643.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6e/oscar-wilde-16_brute_how-dreadful-cried-lord-harry-i-can-stan_2485643.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6e/oscar-wilde-16_brute_how-dreadful-cried-lord-harry-i-can-stan_2485643.jpg) > ““How dreadful!" cried Lord Harry. "I can stand brute force, but brute reason is quite unbearable. There is something unfair about its use. It is hitting below the intellect.”” [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. He laments that rational arguments can be more painful than physical force, feeling they are unfair and intellectually oppressive. **In simple terms:** Reason can feel harsh and unfair. Key Takeaway Balance reason with empathy. Themes reason emotion justice Mood thoughtful ironic Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - debates - legal arguments - personal conflicts - academic discourse Key Concepts philosophy ethics psychology Questions to Reflect On - How can we make rational discourse kinder? - When does reason become oppressive? A Different Perspective Reason alone may lack compassion. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brute/) [Brute force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brute-force/) [Brute Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brute-reason-912554/) [Force Brute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/force-brute-912555/) [Unbearable Unfair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unbearable-unfair-912556/) ## Related quotes > [I can stand brute force, but brute reason is quite unbearable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/i-can-stand-brute-force-but-brute-reason-is-quite-unbearable/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“I can stand brute force, but brute reason is quite unbearable. There is something unfair about it's use. It is hitting below the intellect.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/i-can-stand-brute-force-but-brute-reason-is-quite-unbearable-there-is/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [If our view is limited to mortal life, some things become unbearable because they seem so unfair and so permanent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boyd-k-packer/if-our-view-is-limited-to-mortal-life-some-things-become-unbearable/) [Boyd K. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boyd-k-packer/) > [I don't care if you're a Republican or a Democrat, there is something profoundly un-American about using the brute force of government to bully…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-don-t-care-if-you-re-a-republican-or-a-democrat-there-is-something/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [If brute force doesn't work, you aren't using enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/if-brute-force-doesn-t-work-you-aren-t-using-enough/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [To bathe a cat takes brute force, perseverance, courage of conviction - and a cat. The last ingredient is usually hardest to come by.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-baker/to-bathe-a-cat-takes-brute-force-perseverance-courage-of-conviction/) [Stephen Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-baker/) > [“If brute force is not working you're not using enough”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-herfst/if-brute-force-is-not-working-you-re-not-using-enough/) [Stephen Herfst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-herfst/) > [Brain against brute force - and brain came out on the top - as its bound to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-grahame/brain-against-brute-force-and-brain-came-out-on-the-top-as-its-bound/) [Kenneth Grahame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-grahame/) > [“Brute force will sometimes get you through a challenge, but usually not without hurting and depleting yourself in the process.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/brute-force-will-sometimes-get-you-through-a-challenge-but-usually/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [In this age of the rule of brute force, it is almost impossible for anyone to believe that any one else could possibly reject…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/in-this-age-of-the-rule-of-brute-force-it-is-almost-impossible-for/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Millions around the world increasingly see America not as a model of democracy but as relying solely on brute force, cobbling coalitions together under…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/millions-around-the-world-increasingly-see-america-not-as-a-model-of/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [Brute force is not our salvation, especially as directed by State central planning and done with little regard for the innocents...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-gregory/brute-force-is-not-our-salvation-especially-as-directed-by-state/) [Anthony Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-gregory/) > [“than he expects. But it's a purely brute force approach”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-weber/than-he-expects-but-it-s-a-purely-brute-force-approach/) [David Weber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-weber/) > [They were conquerors, and for that you want only brute force--nothing to boast of, when you have it, since your strength is just an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-conrad/they-were-conquerors-and-for-that-you-want-only-brute-force-nothing/) [Joseph Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-conrad/) > [In the code of the satyagrahi, there is no such thing as surrender to brute force.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/in-the-code-of-the-satyagrahi-there-is-no-such-thing-as-surrender-to/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) ## 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 Brute quotes > [Et tu Brute! (You too, Brutus!)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/et-tu-brute-you-too-brutus/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [In the code of the satyagrahi, there is no such thing as surrender to brute force.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/in-the-code-of-the-satyagrahi-there-is-no-such-thing-as-surrender-to/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [They were conquerors, and for that you want only brute force--nothing to boast of, when you have it, since your strength is just an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-conrad/they-were-conquerors-and-for-that-you-want-only-brute-force-nothing/) [Joseph Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-conrad/) > [“Et tu, Brute?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/et-tu-brute/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [The mob is a sort of bear; while your ring is through its nose, it will even dance under your cudgel; but should the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-porter/the-mob-is-a-sort-of-bear-while-your-ring-is-through-its-nose-it-will/) [Jane Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-porter/) > [“than he expects. But it's a purely brute force approach”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-weber/than-he-expects-but-it-s-a-purely-brute-force-approach/) [David Weber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-weber/) > [Brute force is not our salvation, especially as directed by State central planning and done with little regard for the innocents...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-gregory/brute-force-is-not-our-salvation-especially-as-directed-by-state/) [Anthony Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-gregory/) > [Millions around the world increasingly see America not as a model of democracy but as relying solely on brute force, cobbling coalitions together under…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/millions-around-the-world-increasingly-see-america-not-as-a-model-of/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [“Any brute can break something. It takes finesse to mold and shape it to your own desires.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-avery-ellison/any-brute-can-break-something-it-takes-finesse-to-mold-and-shape-it/) [Kate Avery Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-avery-ellison/) > [In this age of the rule of brute force, it is almost impossible for anyone to believe that any one else could possibly reject…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/in-this-age-of-the-rule-of-brute-force-it-is-almost-impossible-for/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“Brute force will sometimes get you through a challenge, but usually not without hurting and depleting yourself in the process.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/brute-force-will-sometimes-get-you-through-a-challenge-but-usually/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [“Had she any respect for him at all, his words would've affected her. But no value accompanies comments spewed from the mouth of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/had-she-any-respect-for-him-at-all-his-words-would-ve-affected-her/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [A brute kills for pleasure. A fool kills from hate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/a-brute-kills-for-pleasure-a-fool-kills-from-hate/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Brain against brute force - and brain came out on the top - as its bound to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-grahame/brain-against-brute-force-and-brain-came-out-on-the-top-as-its-bound/) [Kenneth Grahame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-grahame/) > [For danger levels man and brute And all are fellows in their need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/for-danger-levels-man-and-brute-and-all-are-fellows-in-their-need/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) [Browse all 56 Brute quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brute/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“How dreadful!\" cried Lord Harry. \"I can stand brute force, but brute reason is quite unbearable. There is something unfair about its use. 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