--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Jack: “Gwendolen, it is a terrible thing…" description: "\"“Jack: “Gwendolen, it is a terrible thing for a man to find out suddenly that all his life he has been speaking nothing but the truth. Can you forgive ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/382/oscar-wilde-16_forgive_jack-gwendolen-it-is-a-terrible-thing-fo_60900.jpg" --- # Jack: “Gwendolen, it is a terrible thing for a man to find… ![“Jack: “Gwendolen, it is a terrible thing for a man to find out suddenly that all his life he has been speaking nothing but the truth. Can you forgive me?” Gwendolen: “I can. For I feel that you are sure to change.” quote by Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/382/oscar-wilde-16_forgive_jack-gwendolen-it-is-a-terrible-thing-fo_60900.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/382/oscar-wilde-16_forgive_jack-gwendolen-it-is-a-terrible-thing-fo_60900.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/382/oscar-wilde-16_forgive_jack-gwendolen-it-is-a-terrible-thing-fo_60900.jpg) > ““Jack: “Gwendolen, it is a terrible thing for a man to find out suddenly that all his life he has been speaking nothing but the truth. Can you forgive me?” Gwendolen: “I can. For I feel that you are sure to change.”” [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 dialogue exposing the shock of realizing one's lifelong honesty may have been misguided, and the hope that change is possible. **In simple terms:** Truth can be unsettling; change is hopeful. Key Takeaway Honesty may mask deeper issues; growth requires forgiveness. Themes self-awareness truth change forgiveness identity Mood reflective hopeful somber Type dialogue philosophical When to use this quote - confessing a long-held belief - realizing a mistake - seeking redemption - accepting change Key Concepts personal growth moral ambiguity relationship dynamics Practical Applications - literary analysis - psychological counseling Questions to Reflect On - What does it mean to live authentically? - How can we reconcile past truths with new perspectives? A Different Perspective null ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [Gwendolen, it is a terrible thing for a man to find out suddenly that all his life he has been speaking nothing but the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/gwendolen-it-is-a-terrible-thing-for-a-man-to-find-out-suddenly-that/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Jack: “Gwendolen, wait here for me.” Gwendolen: “If you are not too long, I will wait here for you all my life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/jack-gwendolen-wait-here-for-me-gwendolen-if-you-are-not-too-long-i/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“I understand that you are claiming it is almost impossible to forgive, but only easier to forget. The truth is that, you can only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mwanandeke-kindembo/i-understand-that-you-are-claiming-it-is-almost-impossible-to-forgive/) [Mwanandeke Kindembo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mwanandeke-kindembo/) > [“understand there are no secrets to a charmed life. There is just the simple truth that you must forgive yourself for only being able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-meissner/understand-there-are-no-secrets-to-a-charmed-life-there-is-just-the/) [Susan Meissner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-meissner/) > [Always forgive your enimies nothing annoys them more](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/always-forgive-your-enimies-nothing-annoys-them-more/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [The Greatest Advantage Of Speaking Truth Is That You Don't Have To Remember What You Said...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-greatest-advantage-of-speaking-truth-is-that-you-don-t-have-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The upshot here is that Gil Scott-Heron is still a warrior, even if the front lines have moved. He's made a record not without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-hermes/the-upshot-here-is-that-gil-scott-heron-is-still-a-warrior-even-if/) [Will Hermes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-hermes/) > [“I think there's a real hunger for people speaking truth to power. Like, there's a little minority now that's saying you sounded like an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-franzen/i-think-there-s-a-real-hunger-for-people-speaking-truth-to-power-like/) [Jonathan Franzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-franzen/) > [“What I know for sure is that speaking your truth is the most powerful tool we have.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/what-i-know-for-sure-is-that-speaking-your-truth-is-the-most-powerful/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [“There are times for war—many times. But sometimes it’s necessary to risk speaking the truth of our own vulnerabilities.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-cremer/there-are-times-for-war-many-times-but-sometimes-it-s-necessary-to/) [Andrea Cremer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-cremer/) > [When a person in a Russian prison decides to start speaking, to start speaking the truth - they start to reject oppression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-alyokhina/when-a-person-in-a-russian-prison-decides-to-start-speaking-to-start/) [Maria Alyokhina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-alyokhina/) > [The only people mad at you for speaking the truth are those living a lie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-people-mad-at-you-for-speaking-the-truth-are-those-living-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only people mad at your for speaking the truth are those living a lie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-people-mad-at-your-for-speaking-the-truth-are-those-living-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Simply speaking truth out loud is healing in and of itself. When people courageously voice a true, hard thing, they’ve already stolen some of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-hatmaker/simply-speaking-truth-out-loud-is-healing-in-and-of-itself-when/) [Jen Hatmaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-hatmaker/) > [“«Speaking the truth is like gulping a mouthful of brandy: it burns on my tongue, but a moment after my body feels warmer, looser,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosamund-hodge/speaking-the-truth-is-like-gulping-a-mouthful-of-brandy-it-burns-on/) [Rosamund Hodge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosamund-hodge/) ## 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 Forgive quotes > [“So in practicing blanket forgiveness you first assume that in any current condition of pain or discomfort there is some anger involved, even if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serge-kahili-king/so-in-practicing-blanket-forgiveness-you-first-assume-that-in-any/) Serge Kahili King > [Do what is given to you, and do it well, and you will have done enough...live together in the forgiveness of your sins. Forgive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-what-is-given-to-you-and-do-it-well-and-you-will-have-done-enough/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The public, more often than not, will forgive mistakes, but it will not forgive trying to wiggle out of one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-grizzard/the-public-more-often-than-not-will-forgive-mistakes-but-it-will-not/) [Lewis Grizzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-grizzard/) > [Im so sorry,i screwed up again.i didnt meant hurting you.please,forgive me,again?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/redeyeen/im-so-sorry-i-screwed-up-again-i-didnt-meant-hurting-you-please/) Redeyeen > [“He fell back. He had cried out so loud that even if there had been no breach in the wall, I should have heard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-barbusse/he-fell-back-he-had-cried-out-so-loud-that-even-if-there-had-been-no/) [Henri Barbusse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-barbusse/) > [Forgive us our trespasses," says Margarethe, "and get out of our way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/forgive-us-our-trespasses-says-margarethe-and-get-out-of-our-way/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [“ving self and others is an every second of every day of every week, of every month, of every year gift that should not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanjo-jendayi/ving-self-and-others-is-an-every-second-of-every-day-of-every-week-of/) [Sanjo Jendayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanjo-jendayi/) > [Ive learned¦ that no matter how good a friend is, theyre going to hurt you every once in a while, and you must forgive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/ive-learned-that-no-matter-how-good-a-friend-is-theyre-going-to-hurt/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Forgive yourself for not being the richest, the thinnest, the tallest, the one with the best hair. Forgive yourself for not being the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/forgive-yourself-for-not-being-the-richest-the-thinnest-the-tallest/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [If you can't forgive and forget, pick only one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-brault/if-you-can-t-forgive-and-forget-pick-only-one/) [Robert Brault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-brault/) > [I feel people relate with your entire journey and forgive your mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahul-vaidya/i-feel-people-relate-with-your-entire-journey-and-forgive-your/) [Rahul Vaidya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahul-vaidya/) > [More courage is required to forgive than is required to take up arms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-ramos-horta/more-courage-is-required-to-forgive-than-is-required-to-take-up-arms/) [Jose Ramos-Horta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-ramos-horta/) > [“The Bible says, “You must make allowance for each other’s faults and forgive the person who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/the-bible-says-you-must-make-allowance-for-each-other-s-faults-and/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [“By choosing to forgive, you are choosing to love. By choosing to operate in love, you are choosing to operate in an unconditional state…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-watterson/by-choosing-to-forgive-you-are-choosing-to-love-by-choosing-to/) Eric Watterson > [The most important thing about being a father is being able to forgive yourself. If you don't forgive yourself, you're not going to forgive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evander-holyfield/the-most-important-thing-about-being-a-father-is-being-able-to/) [Evander Holyfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evander-holyfield/) Browse all 3,381 Forgive quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Jack: “Gwendolen, it is a terrible thing for a man to find out suddenly that all his life he has been speaking nothing but the truth. Can you forgive me?” Gwendolen: “I can. 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