--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I really don't see anything romantic in…" description: "\"“I really don't see anything romantic in proposing. It is very romantic to be in love. But there is nothing romantic about a definite proposal. Why, on..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/514/oscar-wilde-16_divorce_i-really-don-t-see-anything-romantic-in_2862916.jpg" --- # I really don't see anything romantic in proposing. It is… ![“I really don't see anything romantic in proposing. It is very romantic to be in love. But there is nothing romantic about a definite proposal. Why, one may be accepted. One usually is, I believe. Then the excitement is all over. The very essence of romance is uncertainty. If ever I get married…” quote by Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/514/oscar-wilde-16_divorce_i-really-don-t-see-anything-romantic-in_2862916.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/514/oscar-wilde-16_divorce_i-really-don-t-see-anything-romantic-in_2862916.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/514/oscar-wilde-16_divorce_i-really-don-t-see-anything-romantic-in_2862916.jpg) > ““I really don't see anything romantic in proposing. It is very romantic to be in love. But there is nothing romantic about a definite proposal. Why, one may be accepted. One usually is, I believe. Then the excitement is all over. The very essence of romance is uncertainty. If ever I get married, I'll certainly try to forget the fact. JACK. I have no doubt about that, dear Algy. The Divorce Court was specially invented for people whose memories are so curiously constituted. ALGERNON. Oh! there is no use speculating on that subject. Divorces are made in Heaven-...”” [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. Wilde argues that romance thrives on uncertainty, and a definite proposal ends excitement. **In simple terms:** Romance needs mystery; certainty kills excitement. Key Takeaway Embrace uncertainty in love. Themes romance uncertainty commitment marriage Mood witty philosophical Type dramatic conversational When to use this quote - courtship - engagement - marital discussions Key Concepts expectations illusion social norms Questions to Reflect On - Do you prefer certainty or mystery in love? - Can commitment coexist with excitement? A Different Perspective Some may value security over mystery; not all share this view. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Definite Proposal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/definite-proposal-3872952/) [Divorce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divorce/) [Humorous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humorous/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Marriage proposal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage-proposal/) [Proposing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proposing/) [Proposing Romantic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proposing-romantic-3872950/) [Romance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/romance/) [Romance Uncertainty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/romance-uncertainty-1720577/) [Romantic Proposing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/romantic-proposing-3872951/) ## Related quotes > [I really don't see anything romantic in proposing. It is very romantic to be in love. But there is nothing romantic about a definite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/i-really-don-t-see-anything-romantic-in-proposing-it-is-very-romantic/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“I really don't see what is so romantic about proposing. One may be accepted - one usually is, I believe - and then the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/i-really-don-t-see-what-is-so-romantic-about-proposing-one-may-be/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“It is very romantic to be in love. But there is nothing romantic about a definite proposal. Why, one may be accepted. One usually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/it-is-very-romantic-to-be-in-love-but-there-is-nothing-romantic-about/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [The very essence of romance is uncertainty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-very-essence-of-romance-is-uncertainty/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“very essence of romance is uncertainty.  If ever I get married, I’ll certainly try to forget the fact.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/very-essence-of-romance-is-uncertainty-if-ever-i-get-married-i-ll/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“She swallowed nervously, blinking. “Are you… proposing to me?” I laughed, shaking my head. “No, darling. It’s better than a marriage proposal.” Her eyes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dari-a-malaunt/she-swallowed-nervously-blinking-are-you-proposing-to-me-i-laughed/) [Dari A. Malaunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dari-a-malaunt/) > [“JACK: Well . . . may I propose to you now? GWENDOLEN: I think it would be an admirable opportunity. And to spare you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/jack-well-may-i-propose-to-you-now-gwendolen-i-think-it-would-be-an/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [You hear a lot of horror stories about proposing and things going horribly wrong - it went really, really well and I was really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prince-william/you-hear-a-lot-of-horror-stories-about-proposing-and-things-going/) [Prince William](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prince-william/) > [I guess the only trouble was that George was very slow in getting around to proposing. Several times, I almost proposed to him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-vaughan/i-guess-the-only-trouble-was-that-george-was-very-slow-in-getting/) [Sarah Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-vaughan/) > [“Ah, Azalea," said the King. "He's not going to be the one proposing." The springs in Azalea's feet went poioioing . "Sorry?" she said.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-dixon/ah-azalea-said-the-king-he-s-not-going-to-be-the-one-proposing-the/) [Heather Dixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-dixon/) > [In speech after speech on his health care plan, the President has tried to convince us that what he is proposing will be good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-brown/in-speech-after-speech-on-his-health-care-plan-the-president-has/) [Scott Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-brown/) > [I am proposing Facebook for dead people, name it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahmudul-islam/i-am-proposing-facebook-for-dead-people-name-it/) [Mahmudul Islam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahmudul-islam/) > [“Proposing is like giving someone your dick and a sharp knife, then waiting to see what they do next.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-reid/proposing-is-like-giving-someone-your-dick-and-a-sharp-knife-then/) [Penny Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-reid/) > [I'm proposing a change: love thy worker-bee. Celebrate the ones who toil without complaint, play on a team, construct the hive, produce the honey...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-lublin/i-m-proposing-a-change-love-thy-worker-bee-celebrate-the-ones-who/) [Nancy Lublin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-lublin/) > [I know that a lot of girls nowadays are proposing to guys but I think I'll be old fashioned. I'll wait until I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-lachey/i-know-that-a-lot-of-girls-nowadays-are-proposing-to-guys-but-i-think/) [Vanessa Lachey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-lachey/) ## 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 Divorce quotes > [Every woman I have ever loved has left her print upon me, where I loved some invaluable piece of myself apart from me-so different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audre-lorde/every-woman-i-have-ever-loved-has-left-her-print-upon-me-where-i/) [Audre Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audre-lorde/) > [I had a pretty public divorce. 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"Hedonistic sloth and escapism.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-finnamore/for-me-it-s-sloth-i-say-hedonistic-sloth-and-escapism/) [Suzanne Finnamore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-finnamore/) [Browse all 2,051 Divorce quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divorce/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I really don't see anything romantic in proposing. It is very romantic to be in love. But there is nothing romantic about a definite proposal. Why, one may be accepted. One usually is, I believe. Then the excitement is all over. The very essence of romance is uncertainty. If ever I get married, I'll certainly try to forget the fact. JACK. I have no doubt about that, dear Algy. The Divorce Court was specially invented for people whose memories are so curiously constituted. ALGERNON. Oh! there is no use speculating on that subject. 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