--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In England people actually try to be…" description: "\"In England people actually try to be brilliant at breakfast. That is so dreadful of them! Only dull people are brilliant at breakfast.\" — Oscar Wilde" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/984/oscar-wilde-16_breakfast_in-england-people-actually-try-to-be-bri_398540.jpg" --- # In England people actually try to be brilliant at… ![“In England people actually try to be brilliant at breakfast. That is so dreadful of them! Only dull people are brilliant at breakfast.” quote by Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/984/oscar-wilde-16_breakfast_in-england-people-actually-try-to-be-bri_398540.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/984/oscar-wilde-16_breakfast_in-england-people-actually-try-to-be-bri_398540.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/984/oscar-wilde-16_breakfast_in-england-people-actually-try-to-be-bri_398540.jpg) > “In England people actually try to be brilliant at breakfast. That is so dreadful of them! Only dull people are brilliant at breakfast.” [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 mocks the pretentiousness of trying to be clever in mundane settings, suggesting true brilliance is not forced. **In simple terms:** Brilliant behavior at breakfast is pretentious. Key Takeaway Avoid forced cleverness. Themes pretentiousness authenticity social critique Mood sarcastic critical Type satirical observational When to use this quote - daily routines - social gatherings - personal branding Key Concepts social norms self‑presentation Questions to Reflect On - Is your morning routine authentic? - How does forced wit affect relationships? A Different Perspective Brilliance can be genuine without performance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brilliant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brilliant/) [England](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/england/) [Food](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/food/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [Only dull people are brilliant at breakfast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/only-dull-people-are-brilliant-at-breakfast/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Everyone is brilliant at breakfast.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/everyone-is-brilliant-at-breakfast/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [What I enjoy is a collaboration. Working with other like-minded people. People who have brilliant minds and big hearts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-ovenden/what-i-enjoy-is-a-collaboration-working-with-other-like-minded-people/) [Julian Ovenden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-ovenden/) > [I did 'Never Let Me Go,' and there were amazing people on that. Brilliant writer, director, cast. That was quite special.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domhnall-gleeson/i-did-never-let-me-go-and-there-were-amazing-people-on-that-brilliant/) [Domhnall Gleeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/domhnall-gleeson/) > [Some people's brilliance is in their head. A surgeon's brilliance is in her hands. But there are people who have brilliant hearts. They shine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennifer-choldenko/some-people-s-brilliance-is-in-their-head-a-surgeon-s-brilliance-is/) [Gennifer Choldenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennifer-choldenko/) > [When people call you brilliant it's always good, especially when the person heads up Russia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/when-people-call-you-brilliant-it-s-always-good-especially-when-the/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [Do understand: Chinese people are brilliant; the West cannot fool them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-vltchek/do-understand-chinese-people-are-brilliant-the-west-cannot-fool-them/) [Andre Vltchek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-vltchek/) > [It's really, really cool that we've been able to have these opportunities to surround ourselves with these people because they're brilliant. Like, Dolly Parton…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirstin-maldonado/it-s-really-really-cool-that-we-ve-been-able-to-have-these/) [Kirstin Maldonado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirstin-maldonado/) > [Some people are brilliant on the first take, some people are brilliant on the fourth take, and when you are doing a group scene,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-wright/some-people-are-brilliant-on-the-first-take-some-people-are-brilliant/) [Edgar Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-wright/) > [Man made money, but money made him made, brilliant people do not make mistakes but mistakes makes people brilliant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hussein-nishah/man-made-money-but-money-made-him-made-brilliant-people-do-not-make/) [Hussein Nishah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hussein-nishah/) > [“IF YOU TREAT PEOPLE AS IF THEY ARE THE BRILLIANT PERSON THEY WILL BECOME IN 20 YEARS, THEY BECOME IT NOW.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richie-norton/if-you-treat-people-as-if-they-are-the-brilliant-person-they-will/) [Richie Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie-norton/) > [ Like I said about Seinfeld and Chris Rock, they're a great combination of brilliance and hard work. \[But\] there are people who are brilliant… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-silverman/like-i-said-about-seinfeld-and-chris-rock-they-re-a-great-combination/) [Sarah Silverman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-silverman/) > [The innocent supposition, entertained by most people, that even if they are not brilliant, they are not dumb, is correct only in a very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gould-cozzens/the-innocent-supposition-entertained-by-most-people-that-even-if-they/) [James Gould Cozzens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gould-cozzens/) > [I guess some people are brilliant enough to be brilliant on their own and never doubt anything and come up with fabulous things. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/i-guess-some-people-are-brilliant-enough-to-be-brilliant-on-their-own/) [Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/) > [The faster you get back to people, the less brilliant you have to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-gurley-brown/the-faster-you-get-back-to-people-the-less-brilliant-you-have-to-be/) [Helen Gurley Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-gurley-brown/) ## 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 Breakfast quotes > [Get out from that kitchen and rattle those pots and pans. Well, roll my breakfast cause I'm a hungry man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-joe-turner/get-out-from-that-kitchen-and-rattle-those-pots-and-pans-well-roll-my/) [Big Joe Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-joe-turner/) > [“Well, maybe you can make me dinner sometime,” he says to me, his voice taking on this silken quality that feels like stepping into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karina-halle/well-maybe-you-can-make-me-dinner-sometime-he-says-to-me-his-voice/) [Karina Halle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karina-halle/) > [Everyday happiness means getting up in the morning, and you can't wait to finish your breakfast. You can't wait to do your exercises. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-burns/everyday-happiness-means-getting-up-in-the-morning-and-you-can-t-wait/) [George Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-burns/) > [Guys wake up at your place and they expect breakfast. They don't eat bagels and M&M's in the morning. They want things like toast.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elayne-boosler/guys-wake-up-at-your-place-and-they-expect-breakfast-they-don-t-eat/) [Elayne Boosler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elayne-boosler/) > [My mom cares that I tweeted a picture of my breakfast. She's knows I'm eating and I'm safe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-dorsey/my-mom-cares-that-i-tweeted-a-picture-of-my-breakfast-she-s-knows-i-m/) [Jack Dorsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-dorsey/) > [I'll take the kids to school after breakfast. I love doing that - love being a dad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darius-rucker/i-ll-take-the-kids-to-school-after-breakfast-i-love-doing-that-love/) [Darius Rucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darius-rucker/) > [To become a celebrity is to become a brand name. There is Ivory Soap, Rice Krispies, and Philip Roth. Ivory is the soap that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/to-become-a-celebrity-is-to-become-a-brand-name-there-is-ivory-soap/) [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) > [I always wanted to be a movie star. I thought it meant being famous and having breakfast in bed. I didn't know you had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-allyson/i-always-wanted-to-be-a-movie-star-i-thought-it-meant-being-famous/) [June Allyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-allyson/) > [I am first one in the gym, I do cardio before I have breakfast, and I am training hard every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jinder-mahal/i-am-first-one-in-the-gym-i-do-cardio-before-i-have-breakfast-and-i/) [Jinder Mahal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jinder-mahal/) > [When I saw 'Breakfast at Tiffany's,' and Audrey Hepburn was standing in front of Tiffany's in this Givenchy dress, or when I saw 'All…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-whitfield/when-i-saw-breakfast-at-tiffany-s-and-audrey-hepburn-was-standing-in/) [Lynn Whitfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-whitfield/) > [Girl, he wants to dip you in Frosted Flakes and have you for breakfast. That's his favorite cereal, by the way." I...had no words…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gena-showalter/girl-he-wants-to-dip-you-in-frosted-flakes-and-have-you-for-breakfast/) [Gena Showalter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gena-showalter/) > [“    Breakfast was ready. He could hear his father asking for coffee. Why did his father have to yell all the time? Couldn't he talk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fante/breakfast-was-ready-he-could-hear-his-father-asking-for-coffee-why/) [John Fante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fante/) > [Your favorite kind of cake can't be birthday cake, that's like saying your favorite kind of cereal is breakfast cereal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aziz-ansari/your-favorite-kind-of-cake-can-t-be-birthday-cake-that-s-like-saying/) [Aziz Ansari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aziz-ansari/) > [I try to cover three food groups at breakfast. I see that as a licence to eat rubbish for the rest of the day.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-millican/i-try-to-cover-three-food-groups-at-breakfast-i-see-that-as-a-licence/) [Sarah Millican](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-millican/) > [I want to be challenged I want to work and I want to feel that I am not being held back that there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sofia-vassilieva/i-want-to-be-challenged-i-want-to-work-and-i-want-to-feel-that-i-am/) [Sofia Vassilieva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sofia-vassilieva/) Browse all 1,505 Breakfast quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In England people actually try to be brilliant at breakfast. That is so dreadful of them! 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