--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If a man is a gentleman, he knows quite…" description: "\"“If a man is a gentleman, he knows quite enough, and if he is not a gentleman, whatever he knows is bad for him.”\" — Oscar Wilde" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d0/oscar-wilde-16_gentleman_if-a-man-is-a-gentleman-he-knows-quite-e_612087.jpg" --- # If a man is a gentleman, he knows quite enough, and if he… ![“If a man is a gentleman, he knows quite enough, and if he is not a gentleman, whatever he knows is bad for him.” quote by Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d0/oscar-wilde-16_gentleman_if-a-man-is-a-gentleman-he-knows-quite-e_612087.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d0/oscar-wilde-16_gentleman_if-a-man-is-a-gentleman-he-knows-quite-e_612087.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d0/oscar-wilde-16_gentleman_if-a-man-is-a-gentleman-he-knows-quite-e_612087.jpg) > ““If a man is a gentleman, he knows quite enough, and if he is not a gentleman, whatever he knows is bad for him.”” [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. A true gentleman knows enough; ignorance makes a man uncivilized. **In simple terms:** Gentleman knows enough; ignorance is bad. Key Takeaway Seek knowledge and humility. Themes gentlemanhood knowledge humility Mood witty insightful Type moral philosophical When to use this quote - education - social etiquette - personal growth Key Concepts ethics social conduct character development Questions to Reflect On - What does being a gentleman mean today? - How can humility balance knowledge? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on knowledge can breed arrogance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Gentleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gentleman/) ## Related quotes > [Examinations, sir, are pure humbug from beginning to end. If a man is a gentleman, he knows quite enough, and if he is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/examinations-sir-are-pure-humbug-from-beginning-to-end-if-a-man-is-a/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“An English gentleman is someone who knows exactly when to stop being one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-rodale/an-english-gentleman-is-someone-who-knows-exactly-when-to-stop-being/) [Maya Rodale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-rodale/) > [A gentleman is someone who knows how to play the banjo and doesn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/a-gentleman-is-someone-who-knows-how-to-play-the-banjo-and-doesn-t/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“he sometimes took out a gun, but never killed; quite the gentleman.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/he-sometimes-took-out-a-gun-but-never-killed-quite-the-gentleman/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [I am partial to ladies if they are nice. I suppose it is my nature. I am not quite a gentleman but you would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daisy-ashford/i-am-partial-to-ladies-if-they-are-nice-i-suppose-it-is-my-nature-i/) [Daisy Ashford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daisy-ashford/) > [I like to be bought flowers and taken out for dinner. I like a man to be a gentleman. I don't like to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-stone/i-like-to-be-bought-flowers-and-taken-out-for-dinner-i-like-a-man-to/) [Sharon Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-stone/) > [A man will be as much of a gentleman as a woman requires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-elliot/a-man-will-be-as-much-of-a-gentleman-as-a-woman-requires/) [Elisabeth Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-elliot/) > [“He was one of those deep ones who know about stocks and shares. Of course no one really knows, but he quite seemed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-barrie/he-was-one-of-those-deep-ones-who-know-about-stocks-and-shares-of/) [J.M. Barrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-barrie/) > [I mean, you know, God knows everything, but I'm not quite that good. Every once in a while, something will slip by me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-schieffer/i-mean-you-know-god-knows-everything-but-i-m-not-quite-that-good/) [Bob Schieffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-schieffer/) > [One knows quite well that harmony can be a harmony of appearances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feyerabend/one-knows-quite-well-that-harmony-can-be-a-harmony-of-appearances/) [Paul Feyerabend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feyerabend/) > [A gentleman knows when to call her sexy and when to let her know shes beautiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-rogers/a-gentleman-knows-when-to-call-her-sexy-and-when-to-let-her-know-shes/) [Sydney Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-rogers/) > [Aristocracy is an atmosphere; it is sometimes a healthy atmosphere; but it is very hard to say when it becomes an unhealthy atmosphere. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/aristocracy-is-an-atmosphere-it-is-sometimes-a-healthy-atmosphere-but/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [A Gentle Man and a Gentleman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-dempsey/a-gentle-man-and-a-gentleman/) [Jack Dempsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-dempsey/) > [“The real reason why any man becomes a gentleman is because of a woman who is truly in touch with her own sensuality. She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lebo-grand/the-real-reason-why-any-man-becomes-a-gentleman-is-because-of-a-woman/) [Lebo Grand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lebo-grand/) > [God created man in his own image. And man, being a gentleman, returned the favor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-rousseau/god-created-man-in-his-own-image-and-man-being-a-gentleman-returned/) [Henri Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-rousseau/) ## 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 Gentleman quotes > [“Like this, Rook.” Ford’s soft words vibrate into me. “I like you. I’d like to show you how much, actually. I’m being a gentleman…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-a-huss/like-this-rook-ford-s-soft-words-vibrate-into-me-i-like-you-i-d-like/) [J.A. Huss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-a-huss/) > [“But I’ve developed a great reputation for wisdom by ordering more books than I ever had time to read, and reading more books, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/but-i-ve-developed-a-great-reputation-for-wisdom-by-ordering-more/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [“Call me old-fashioned, but whenever I see those wire-fortified ribbons, I have the secret stab of nostalgia for old-timey ribbon, the kind whose ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhoda-janzen/call-me-old-fashioned-but-whenever-i-see-those-wire-fortified-ribbons/) [Rhoda Janzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhoda-janzen/) > [ I failed, I think, seven \[or\] eight times before I finally got my first \[championship\]. It was just, you know, just about me growing… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-failed-i-think-seven-or-eight-times-before-i-finally-got-my-first/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [Brothers all In honour, as in one community, Scholars and gentlemen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wordsworth/brothers-all-in-honour-as-in-one-community-scholars-and-gentlemen/) [William Wordsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wordsworth/) > [I like to be bought flowers and taken out for dinner. I like a man to be a gentleman. I don't like to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-stone/i-like-to-be-bought-flowers-and-taken-out-for-dinner-i-like-a-man-to/) [Sharon Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-stone/) > [A gentleman is not born but crafted. He had to work on himself in the same way as a sculptor shaped a rough stone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/a-gentleman-is-not-born-but-crafted-he-had-to-work-on-himself-in-the/) [Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/) > [I'm old school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-old-school/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Some Iranian doctors from Europe and America go to Iran and operate for free or teach medical students there. The other day, I met…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farah-diba/some-iranian-doctors-from-europe-and-america-go-to-iran-and-operate/) [Farah Diba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/farah-diba/) > [I'm an old-fashioned girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chita-rivera/i-m-an-old-fashioned-girl/) [Chita Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chita-rivera/) > [I am a bit old-school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-kay/i-am-a-bit-old-school/) [Jay Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-kay/) > [What's wrong with death sir? What are we so mortally afraid of? Why can't we treat death with a certain amount of humanity and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-williams/what-s-wrong-with-death-sir-what-are-we-so-mortally-afraid-of-why-can/) [Robin Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-williams/) > [The president of the United States of North America, George W. Bush, the little gentleman of the North, the political cadaver that is visiting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-chavez/the-president-of-the-united-states-of-north-america-george-w-bush-the/) [Hugo Chavez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-chavez/) > [Acknowledge yourself, man up along age and then decide to be a gentleman or an another asshole.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniyal-butt/acknowledge-yourself-man-up-along-age-and-then-decide-to-be-a/) [Daniyal Butt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniyal-butt/) > [It is possible that blondes also prefer gentleman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mamie-van-doren/it-is-possible-that-blondes-also-prefer-gentleman/) [Mamie Van Doren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mamie-van-doren/) [Browse all 1,653 Gentleman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gentleman/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“If a man is a gentleman, he knows quite enough, and if he is not a gentleman, whatever he knows is bad for him.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Oscar Wilde" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/if-a-man-is-a-gentleman-he-knows-quite-enough-and-if-he-is-not-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Gentleman" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/if-a-man-is-a-gentleman-he-knows-quite-enough-and-if-he-is-not-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d0/oscar-wilde-16_gentleman_if-a-man-is-a-gentleman-he-knows-quite-e_612087.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d0/oscar-wilde-16_gentleman_if-a-man-is-a-gentleman-he-knows-quite-e_612087.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d0/oscar-wilde-16_gentleman_if-a-man-is-a-gentleman-he-knows-quite-e_612087.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If a man is a gentleman, he knows quite enough, and if he is not a gentleman, whatever he knows is bad for…” — 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": "“If a man is a gentleman,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/if-a-man-is-a-gentleman-he-knows-quite-enough-and-if-he-is-not-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/if-a-man-is-a-gentleman-he-knows-quite-enough-and-if-he-is-not-a/#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 } } ] } ```