--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is love, and not German philosophy…" description: "\"It is love, and not German philosophy, that is the true explanation of the world, whatever may be the explanation of the next.\" — Oscar Wilde" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6f/oscar-wilde-16_explanation_it-is-love-and-not-german-philosophy-tha_3226183.jpg" --- # It is love, and not German philosophy, that is the true… ![“It is love, and not German philosophy, that is the true explanation of the world, whatever may be the explanation of the next.” quote by Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6f/oscar-wilde-16_explanation_it-is-love-and-not-german-philosophy-tha_3226183.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6f/oscar-wilde-16_explanation_it-is-love-and-not-german-philosophy-tha_3226183.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6f/oscar-wilde-16_explanation_it-is-love-and-not-german-philosophy-tha_3226183.jpg) > “It is love, and not German philosophy, that is the true explanation of the world, whatever may be the explanation of the next.” [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. Love, not abstract philosophy, is the fundamental force that makes sense of existence beyond intellectual explanations. **In simple terms:** Love explains life more than philosophy. Key Takeaway Value emotional insight over cold reasoning. Themes love philosophy existence Mood reflective passionate Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - personal relationships - artistic creation - spiritual contemplation Key Concepts Romanticism humanism Questions to Reflect On - How does love shape your worldview? - Can philosophy and love coexist? A Different Perspective Love alone cannot solve practical problems. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [But myth is something else than an explanation of the world, of history, and of destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ricoeur/but-myth-is-something-else-than-an-explanation-of-the-world-of-2/) [Paul Ricoeur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ricoeur/) > [“I believe there is an explanation for everything - although we shall never know the explanation for everything. Not everything in this world can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-augarde/i-believe-there-is-an-explanation-for-everything-although-we-shall/) Steve Augarde > [“LORD GORING: ... All I do know is that life cannot be understood without much charity, cannot be lived without much charity. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/lord-goring-all-i-do-know-is-that-life-cannot-be-understood-without/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [It is perhaps just dawning on five or six minds that physics, too, is only an interpretation and exegesis of the world (to suit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/it-is-perhaps-just-dawning-on-five-or-six-minds-that-physics-too-is/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“Your dream was given to you, by you. You don’t owe the world any explanation for it”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/onipede-ayomide/your-dream-was-given-to-you-by-you-you-don-t-owe-the-world-any/) [Onipede Ayomide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/onipede-ayomide/) > [“physics too is an interpretation of the world and an arrangement of the world, and not an explanation of the world,” and that “we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-ove-knausgard/physics-too-is-an-interpretation-of-the-world-and-an-arrangement-of/) [Karl Ove Knausgård](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-ove-knausgard/) > [The remarkable insights that science affords us into the intelligible workings of the world cry out for an explanation more profound than that which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-polkinghorne/the-remarkable-insights-that-science-affords-us-into-the-intelligible/) [John Polkinghorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-polkinghorne/) > [I do not envy people who think they have a complete explanation of the world, for the simple reason that they are obviously wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/i-do-not-envy-people-who-think-they-have-a-complete-explanation-of/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [“Everything short of an explanation of the world as a whole is frustratingly partial. An explanation of the world must include an answer to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-neiman/everything-short-of-an-explanation-of-the-world-as-a-whole-is/) [Susan Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-neiman/) > [As an explanation of the world materialism has a sort of insane simplicity. It has the quality of a madman's arguments; we have at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/as-an-explanation-of-the-world-materialism-has-a-sort-of-insane/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [“The only logical explanation is that I was made for another world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/the-only-logical-explanation-is-that-i-was-made-for-another-world/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [There is always some madness in love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/there-is-always-some-madness-in-love/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [The old harlot, German philosophy, has finally turned into a church lady.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-grillparzer/the-old-harlot-german-philosophy-has-finally-turned-into-a-church-lady/) [Franz Grillparzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-grillparzer/) > [The years 1781 to 1793 are crucial for many reasons, but chiefly because they pose in an especially clear way the main problem of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-c-beiser/the-years-1781-to-1793-are-crucial-for-many-reasons-but-chiefly/) [Frederick C. Beiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-c-beiser/) > [“Elio Vittorini observed in 1957 that ever since Napoleon, France had proved impermeable to any foreign influence except German philosophy: and that was still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-judt/elio-vittorini-observed-in-1957-that-ever-since-napoleon-france-had/) [Tony Judt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-judt/) ## 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 Explanation quotes > [Let us remember that every worldview-not just Christianity's-must give an explanation or an answer for evil and suffering...this is not just a problem distinctive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/let-us-remember-that-every-worldview-not-just-christianity-s-must/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [Yesterday's truth is today's bullshit. Even yesterday's liberating insight is today's jail of stale explanation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-blanton/yesterday-s-truth-is-today-s-bullshit-even-yesterday-s-liberating/) [Brad Blanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-blanton/) > [Before I had kids, I thought you should never lie to a kid. But now I've had them, I realize you almost lie to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-donoghue/before-i-had-kids-i-thought-you-should-never-lie-to-a-kid-but-now-i/) [Emma Donoghue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-donoghue/) > [To prevent discussion of any other explanations of human origins is hardly what I would expect from open-minded educators.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-campolo/to-prevent-discussion-of-any-other-explanations-of-human-origins-is/) [Tony Campolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-campolo/) > [ They \[scientists of centuries past\] call on God only from the lonely and precarious edge of incomprehension. Where they feel certain about their explanations,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/they-scientists-of-centuries-past-call-on-god-only-from-the-lonely/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [What most needs explanation is not why some people are criminals, but why most people are not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-q-wilson/what-most-needs-explanation-is-not-why-some-people-are-criminals-but/) [James Q. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-q-wilson/) > [In his anti-Darwinian book... (and eponymously named The Neck of the Giraffe ), Francis Hitching tells the story... "The need to survive by reaching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jay-gould/in-his-anti-darwinian-book-and-eponymously-named-the-neck-of-the/) [Stephen Jay Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jay-gould/) > [The goal of faithfulness is not that we will do work for God, but that He will be free to do His work through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/the-goal-of-faithfulness-is-not-that-we-will-do-work-for-god-but-that/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [“But let the wise be warned against too great readiness at explanation: it multiplies the sources of mistake, lengthening the sum for reckoners sure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/but-let-the-wise-be-warned-against-too-great-readiness-at-explanation/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [ \[Barack Obama\] will spend long periods of time explaining to people why he won't use it. At the end of the explanation, nobody knows… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/barack-obama-will-spend-long-periods-of-time-explaining-to-people-why/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [Being a moral realist I see normative ethics as a search of the truth about our obligations and a search of explanation; the idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torbjorn-tannsjo/being-a-moral-realist-i-see-normative-ethics-as-a-search-of-the-truth/) [Torbjorn Tannsjo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torbjorn-tannsjo/) > [Take the story of Cain and Abel. Why were we given that story? Scientifically, you may have an explanation for it, but I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/take-the-story-of-cain-and-abel-why-were-we-given-that-story/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [It is amazing how soon one becomes accustomed to the sound of ones voice, when forced to repeat a speech five or six times…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-william-fulbright/it-is-amazing-how-soon-one-becomes-accustomed-to-the-sound-of-ones/) [J. William Fulbright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-william-fulbright/) > [I don't listen to music. I know it's weird, and I have no explanation for that. But I never do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leila-slimani/i-don-t-listen-to-music-i-know-it-s-weird-and-i-have-no-explanation/) [Leila Slimani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leila-slimani/) > [There are situations when all answers and explanations fade. When you fully accept that you do not know, you give up struggling to find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/there-are-situations-when-all-answers-and-explanations-fade-when-you/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) Browse all 1,440 Explanation quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is love, and not German philosophy, that is the true explanation of the world, whatever may be the explanation of the next.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Oscar Wilde" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/it-is-love-and-not-german-philosophy-that-is-the-true-explanation-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Explanation" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/it-is-love-and-not-german-philosophy-that-is-the-true-explanation-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6f/oscar-wilde-16_explanation_it-is-love-and-not-german-philosophy-tha_3226183.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6f/oscar-wilde-16_explanation_it-is-love-and-not-german-philosophy-tha_3226183.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6f/oscar-wilde-16_explanation_it-is-love-and-not-german-philosophy-tha_3226183.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is love, and not German philosophy, that is the true explanation of the world, whatever may be the…” — 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": "It is love, and not German...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/it-is-love-and-not-german-philosophy-that-is-the-true-explanation-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/it-is-love-and-not-german-philosophy-that-is-the-true-explanation-of/#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 } } ] } ```