--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is immoral to use private property in…" description: "\"“It is immoral to use private property in order to alleviate the horrible evils that result from the institution of private property. ”\" — Oscar Wilde" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0f/oscar-wilde-16_private-property_it-is-immoral-to-use-private-property-in_1797618.jpg" --- # It is immoral to use private property in order to… ![“It is immoral to use private property in order to alleviate the horrible evils that result from the institution of private property.” quote by Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0f/oscar-wilde-16_private-property_it-is-immoral-to-use-private-property-in_1797618.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0f/oscar-wilde-16_private-property_it-is-immoral-to-use-private-property-in_1797618.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0f/oscar-wilde-16_private-property_it-is-immoral-to-use-private-property-in_1797618.jpg) > ““It is immoral to use private property in order to alleviate the horrible evils that result from the institution of private property. ”” [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. Critiques the paradox of using ownership to solve problems created by ownership itself. **In simple terms:** Using property to fix property problems is contradictory. Key Takeaway Question the ethics of property‑based solutions. Themes ethics property paradox social critique Mood thoughtful critical Type philosophical political When to use this quote - policy debate - activism - philosophical writing Key Concepts capitalism moral philosophy economic justice Questions to Reflect On - Can we reform ownership without perpetuating its harms? - What alternatives exist to private property? A Different Perspective May overlook practical needs of individuals lacking resources. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Evils Result](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evils-result-2001646/) [Immoral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immoral/) [Immoral Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immoral-use-2001645/) [Institution Private](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/institution-private-1725561/) [Private property](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/private-property/) ## Related quotes > [It is immoral to use private property in order to alleviate the horrible evils that result from the institutions of private property.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/it-is-immoral-to-use-private-property-in-order-to-alleviate-the-2/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [The institution of private property... is undergoing, at this time, a strain never put on it before. Not because the corporation, in essence, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-grosscup/the-institution-of-private-property-is-undergoing-at-this-time-a/) [Peter S. Grosscup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-grosscup/) > [A people averse to the institution of private property is without the first elements of freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/a-people-averse-to-the-institution-of-private-property-is-without-the/) [Lord Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-acton/) > [Nuclear weapons are intrinsically neither moral nor immoral, though they are more prone to immoral use than most weapons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-kahn/nuclear-weapons-are-intrinsically-neither-moral-nor-immoral-though/) [Herman Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-kahn/) > [These are the evils which result from gossiping habits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/these-are-the-evils-which-result-from-gossiping-habits/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [If property had simply pleasures, we could stand it; but its duties make it unbearable. In the interest of the rich we must get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/if-property-had-simply-pleasures-we-could-stand-it-but-its-duties/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“For the recognition of private property has really harmed Individualism, and obscured it, by confusing a man with what he possesses.  It has led…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/for-the-recognition-of-private-property-has-really-harmed/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“For the recognition of private property has really harmed Individualism, and obscured it, by confusing a man with what he possesses.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/for-the-recognition-of-private-property-has-really-harmed-2/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [ \[T\]he recognition of private property has really harmed Individualism, and obscured it, by confusing a man with what he possesses. It has led Individualism… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/t-he-recognition-of-private-property-has-really-harmed-individualism/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“With the abolition of private property, then, we shall have true, beautiful, healthy Individualism. Nobody will waste his life in accumulating things, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/with-the-abolition-of-private-property-then-we-shall-have-true/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [The English public takes no interest in a work of art until it is told that the work in question is immoral.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-english-public-takes-no-interest-in-a-work-of-art-until-it-is/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“There is no such thing as good influence, Mr. Gray. All influence is immoral- immoral from a scientific point of view.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/there-is-no-such-thing-as-good-influence-mr-gray-all-influence-is/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Art has no influence upon action. It annihilates the desire to act. It is superbly sterile. The books that the world calls immoral are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/art-has-no-influence-upon-action-it-annihilates-the-desire-to-act-it/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Those who find ugly meanings in beautiful things are corrupt without being charming. This is a fault. Those who find beautiful meanings in beautiful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/those-who-find-ugly-meanings-in-beautiful-things-are-corrupt-without-2/) [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/) ## 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 Immoral quotes > [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/) > [IMMORAL, adj. Inexpedient. 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When they feel threatened, they want a lot of it, and when they don't, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-a-walters/americans-have-always-had-an-ambivalent-attitude-toward-intelligence/) [Vernon A. Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vernon-a-walters/) > [What is moral is what you feel good after, and what is immoral is what you feel bad after.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/what-is-moral-is-what-you-feel-good-after-and-what-is-immoral-is-what/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [Food is being purposefully formulated to addict you.Then it is purposefully marketed, targeted to young children to addict them at an early age. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-david/food-is-being-purposefully-formulated-to-addict-you-then-it-is/) [Laurie David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-david/) > [Consumer wants can have bizarre, frivolous, or even immoral origins, and an admirable case can still be made for a society that seeks to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/consumer-wants-can-have-bizarre-frivolous-or-even-immoral-origins-and/) [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) > [I am calling on all citizens with access to unreleased records pertaining to illegal, unconstitutional, or immoral government activities to return those records to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-shapiro/i-am-calling-on-all-citizens-with-access-to-unreleased-records/) [Ryan Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-shapiro/) > [Give up money, give up fame, give up science, give the earth itself and all it contains rather than do an immoral act. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/give-up-money-give-up-fame-give-up-science-give-the-earth-itself-and/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“I've put men to death-men with supposedly immoral souls-that looked dumber than that mouse.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/i-ve-put-men-to-death-men-with-supposedly-immoral-souls-that-looked/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [One of two things when the guy you're dating isn't really ready to commit. He's an a\*\*hole and he's cheating on you; bottom line…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-catherwood/one-of-two-things-when-the-guy-you-re-dating-isn-t-really-ready-to/) [Michael Catherwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-catherwood/) > [I believe that homosexual acts between individuals are immoral and that we should not condone immoral acts. 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