---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If we're always guided by other people's…"
description: "\"If we're always guided by other people's thoughts, what's the point in having our own?\" — Oscar Wilde"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e8/oscar-wilde-16_people_if-we-re-always-guided-by-other-people-s_2677028.jpg"
---

#  If we're always guided by other people's thoughts, what's…

![“If we're always guided by other people's thoughts, what's the point in having our own?” quote by Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e8/oscar-wilde-16_people_if-we-re-always-guided-by-other-people-s_2677028.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e8/oscar-wilde-16_people_if-we-re-always-guided-by-other-people-s_2677028.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e8/oscar-wilde-16_people_if-we-re-always-guided-by-other-people-s_2677028.jpg)

> “If we're always guided by other people's thoughts, what's the point in having our own?”

[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.

Relying on others' opinions diminishes personal authenticity; value your own thoughts.

**In simple terms:** Think for yourself.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate independent thought.

Themes

individualism authenticity critical thinking

Mood

thoughtful defiant

Type

advice philosophical

When to use this quote

- writing
- decision making
- self‑expression
- leadership

Key Concepts

philosophy psychology

Questions to Reflect On

- How to balance advice and independence?
- When to trust your own judgment?

A Different Perspective

Social influence is strong.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Thoughts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thoughts/)

## Related quotes

> [If were always guided by other peoples thoughts, what is the point of having our own?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-were-always-guided-by-other-peoples-thoughts-what-is-the-point-of/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [And We made them Imams who guided (people) by Our command, and We revealed to them the doing of good and the keeping up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quran/and-we-made-them-imams-who-guided-people-by-our-command-and-we/)

[Quran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quran/)

> [One has to multiply thoughts to the point where there aren't enough policemen to control them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/one-has-to-multiply-thoughts-to-the-point-where-there-aren-t-enough/)

[Stanislaw Jerzy Lec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/)

> [It's tragic how few people ever 'possess their souls' before they die. 'Nothing is more rare in any man', says Emerson, 'than an act…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/it-s-tragic-how-few-people-ever-possess-their-souls-before-they-die/)

[Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/)

> [Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone else's opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/most-people-are-other-people-their-thoughts-are-someone-else-s/)

[Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/)

> [“What is the point of having something lovely if you never share it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-condie/what-is-the-point-of-having-something-lovely-if-you-never-share-it/)

[Ally Condie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-condie/)

> [There is not really any point in having a big squad if you don't use it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcginn/there-is-not-really-any-point-in-having-a-big-squad-if-you-don-t-use/)

[John McGinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcginn/)

> [There's no point of having faith if you have evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/there-s-no-point-of-having-faith-if-you-have-evidence/)

[Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/)

> [If I do have some success, I'd like to enjoy it, for heaven's sake! What is the point of having it otherwise?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leontyne-price/if-i-do-have-some-success-i-d-like-to-enjoy-it-for-heaven-s-sake-what/)

[Leontyne Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leontyne-price/)

> [“I have nothing, so I think having something would mean everything to me. But I don’t want to get to the point where I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-have-nothing-so-i-think-having-something-would-mean-everything-to/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [What's the point in having a company of secretaries?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-geldof/what-s-the-point-in-having-a-company-of-secretaries/)

[Bob Geldof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-geldof/)

> [To me, there's no point in having confrontation for the sake of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-redknapp/to-me-there-s-no-point-in-having-confrontation-for-the-sake-of-it/)

[Harry Redknapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-redknapp/)

> [And part of that is, what is the point of having children if you don't have the privilege of bringing them up?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-geldof/and-part-of-that-is-what-is-the-point-of-having-children-if-you-don-t/)

[Bob Geldof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-geldof/)

> [“For what is the point of having something lovely if you never share it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-condie/for-what-is-the-point-of-having-something-lovely-if-you-never-share-it/)

[Ally Condie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-condie/)

> [There's no point of having tons of friends who won't be there when you're down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-s-no-point-of-having-tons-of-friends-who-won-t-be-there-when/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

## 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 People quotes

> [If I am going to be phased out by whatever powers, then I want people to know that it is not because I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parvathy/if-i-am-going-to-be-phased-out-by-whatever-powers-then-i-want-people/)

[Parvathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parvathy/)

> [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/)

[Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/)

> [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/)

[Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/)

> [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/)

[Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/)

> [I wanted to write about voodoo tradition that I feel has been very important to survival of black people here: people of the African…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesmyn-ward/i-wanted-to-write-about-voodoo-tradition-that-i-feel-has-been-very/)

[Jesmyn Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesmyn-ward/)

> [I feel like I definitely have a real sporty style, more so than a lot of people in G.O.O.D. Music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/i-feel-like-i-definitely-have-a-real-sporty-style-more-so-than-a-lot/)

[Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/)

> [I feel like the future is unwritten. So many of the things that we write now haven't been about educating people on the environment,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flansburgh/i-feel-like-the-future-is-unwritten-so-many-of-the-things-that-we/)

[John Flansburgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flansburgh/)

> [The only people who think the Internet is a calamity are people whose lives have been hurt by it; the only people who insist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-klosterman/the-only-people-who-think-the-internet-is-a-calamity-are-people-whose/)

[Chuck Klosterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-klosterman/)

> [Crony capitalism is essentially a condition in which... public officials are giving favours to people in the private sector in payment of political favours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/crony-capitalism-is-essentially-a-condition-in-which-public-officials/)

[Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/)

> [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/)

[Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/)

> [For us who are now in power, we need to be challenged to serve the people and ignore our own egos and personal interests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangari-maathai/for-us-who-are-now-in-power-we-need-to-be-challenged-to-serve-the/)

[Wangari Maathai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangari-maathai/)

> [When I was trying to come up with a stage name, I thought 'Lord' was super rad, but really masculine - ever since I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorde/when-i-was-trying-to-come-up-with-a-stage-name-i-thought-lord-was/)

[Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorde/)

> [By eating many fruits and vegetables in place of fast food and junk food, people could avoid obesity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-h-murdock/by-eating-many-fruits-and-vegetables-in-place-of-fast-food-and-junk/)

[David H. Murdock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-h-murdock/)

> [Some people give you that motivation to work harder simply to get the hell away from wherever they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dane-cook/some-people-give-you-that-motivation-to-work-harder-simply-to-get-the/)

[Dane Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dane-cook/)

> [Pain is meant to wake us up. People try to hide their pain. But they're wrong. Pain is something to carry, like a radio.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-morrison/pain-is-meant-to-wake-us-up-people-try-to-hide-their-pain-but-they-re/)

[Jim Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-morrison/)

[Browse all 211,607 People quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "If we're always guided by other people's thoughts, what's the point in having our own?",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Oscar Wilde"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/if-we-re-always-guided-by-other-people-s-thoughts-what-s-the-point-in/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "People"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/if-we-re-always-guided-by-other-people-s-thoughts-what-s-the-point-in/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e8/oscar-wilde-16_people_if-we-re-always-guided-by-other-people-s_2677028.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e8/oscar-wilde-16_people_if-we-re-always-guided-by-other-people-s_2677028.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e8/oscar-wilde-16_people_if-we-re-always-guided-by-other-people-s_2677028.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“If we're always guided by other people's thoughts, what's the point in having our own?” — 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 we're always guided by other...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/if-we-re-always-guided-by-other-people-s-thoughts-what-s-the-point-in/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/if-we-re-always-guided-by-other-people-s-thoughts-what-s-the-point-in/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
