--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Knowledge would be fatal. It is the…" description: "\"Knowledge would be fatal. It is the uncertainty that charms one. A mist makes things wonderful.\" — Oscar Wilde" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8f/oscar-wilde-16_charm_knowledge-would-be-fatal-it-is-the-uncer_573694.jpg" --- # Knowledge would be fatal. It is the uncertainty that… ![“Knowledge would be fatal. It is the uncertainty that charms one. A mist makes things wonderful.” quote by Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8f/oscar-wilde-16_charm_knowledge-would-be-fatal-it-is-the-uncer_573694.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8f/oscar-wilde-16_charm_knowledge-would-be-fatal-it-is-the-uncer_573694.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8f/oscar-wilde-16_charm_knowledge-would-be-fatal-it-is-the-uncer_573694.jpg) > “Knowledge would be fatal. It is the uncertainty that charms one. A mist makes things wonderful.” [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. The quote suggests that certainty can be limiting, while uncertainty and mystery make life enchanting and inspiring. **In simple terms:** certainty is limiting; mystery inspires. Key Takeaway Embrace uncertainty to find wonder. Themes uncertainty inspiration beauty Mood reflective hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - creative writing - personal growth - exploration - problem solving Key Concepts existentialism aesthetic appreciation Questions to Reflect On - How does uncertainty fuel your creativity? - When does certainty become a barrier? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on uncertainty may lead to indecision or anxiety. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Charm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/charm/) [Fatal Uncertainty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fatal-uncertainty-2864356/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Knowledge Fatal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge-fatal-2864357/) [Mist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mist/) [Uncertainty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uncertainty/) [Wonderful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonderful/) [Would be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would-be/) ## Related quotes > [“Knowledge would be fatal. It is the uncertainty that charms one. A mist makes things wonderful.” “One may lose one’s way.” “All ways end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/knowledge-would-be-fatal-it-is-the-uncertainty-that-charms-one-a-mist-2/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Are you very much in love with him?' he asked. She did not answer for some time, but stood gazing at the landscape. 'I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/are-you-very-much-in-love-with-him-he-asked-she-did-not-answer-for/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Liittle knowledge is dangerous. Flawed knowledge is fatal!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nandini-deka/liittle-knowledge-is-dangerous-flawed-knowledge-is-fatal/) [Nandini Deka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nandini-deka/) > [A voice of greeting from the wind was sent; The mists enfolded me with soft white arms; The birds did sing to lap me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-henry-stoddard/a-voice-of-greeting-from-the-wind-was-sent-the-mists-enfolded-me-with/) [Richard Henry Stoddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-henry-stoddard/) > [“It is the uncertainty that charms one. A mist makes things wonderful.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/it-is-the-uncertainty-that-charms-one-a-mist-makes-things-wonderful/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“The one charm of the past is that it is the past. But women never know when the curtain has fallen. They always want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-one-charm-of-the-past-is-that-it-is-the-past-but-women-never-know/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [She behaves as if she was beautiful. Most American women do. It is the secret of their charm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/she-behaves-as-if-she-was-beautiful-most-american-women-do-it-is-the/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [The universe, they said, depended for its operation on the balance of four forces which they identified as charm, persuasion, uncertainty and bloody-mindedne ss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-universe-they-said-depended-for-its-operation-on-the-balance-of/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Charm is the ability to make someone else think that both of you are pretty wonderful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-winsor/charm-is-the-ability-to-make-someone-else-think-that-both-of-you-are/) [Kathleen Winsor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-winsor/) > [Sure, I’m dramatic and sloppily semi-cynical and semi-sentimental. But, in leisure years I could grow and choose my way. Now I am living on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/sure-i-m-dramatic-and-sloppily-semi-cynical-and-semi-sentimental-but/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [There was only the broad square with the scattered dim moons of the street lamps and with the monumental stone arch which receded into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-maria-remarque/there-was-only-the-broad-square-with-the-scattered-dim-moons-of-the/) [Erich Maria Remarque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-maria-remarque/) > [“...skeins of mist like translucent silk, bending and unbending in the headlight tunnels...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-geddes-a-familiar-rain/skeins-of-mist-like-translucent-silk-bending-and-unbending-in-the/) [John Geddes A Familiar Rain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-geddes-a-familiar-rain/) > [Suddenly a mist of green on the trees, as quiet as thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-richardson/suddenly-a-mist-of-green-on-the-trees-as-quiet-as-thought/) [Dorothy Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-richardson/) > [Home is behind, the world ahead, And there are many paths to tread Through shadows to the edge of night, Until the stars are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/home-is-behind-the-world-ahead-and-there-are-many-paths-to-tread/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) ## 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 Charm quotes > [Charm is a cunning self-forgetfulness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-stead/charm-is-a-cunning-self-forgetfulness/) [Christina Stead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-stead/) > [Every woman thinks herself attractive; even the plainest is satisfied with the charms she deems that she possesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/every-woman-thinks-herself-attractive-even-the-plainest-is-satisfied/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Modesty is the gentle art of enhancing your charm by pretending not to be aware of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-herford/modesty-is-the-gentle-art-of-enhancing-your-charm-by-pretending-not/) [Oliver Herford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-herford/) > [Talk health. The dreary, never-changing tale Of mortal maladies is worn and stale. You cannot charm, or interest, or please By harping in that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-wheeler-wilcox/talk-health-the-dreary-never-changing-tale-of-mortal-maladies-is-worn/) [Ella Wheeler Wilcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-wheeler-wilcox/) > [I'm an old school guy and love the guys in the monster suits and JAWS; even though everyone makes fun of the shark I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-fessenden/i-m-an-old-school-guy-and-love-the-guys-in-the-monster-suits-and-jaws/) [Larry Fessenden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-fessenden/) > [Every woman has the instinct, the propensity to profit from her charms, and there's a lot to be said for giving oneself without love,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leopold-von-sacher-masoch/every-woman-has-the-instinct-the-propensity-to-profit-from-her-charms/) [Leopold von Sacher-Masoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leopold-von-sacher-masoch/) > [I don't know that I'm a free spirit or anything like that. I just have my own way of doing things. That's the charm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-schultz/i-don-t-know-that-i-m-a-free-spirit-or-anything-like-that-i-just-have/) [Dave Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-schultz/) > [In each studio there is a human being dressed in the full regalia of his myth fearing to expore a vulnerable opening, spreading not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/in-each-studio-there-is-a-human-being-dressed-in-the-full-regalia-of/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [“It's a part of life. You never know what you are going to get; you just have to be strong enough to deal with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-hill/it-s-a-part-of-life-you-never-know-what-you-are-going-to-get-you-just/) [Melissa Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-hill/) > [Even after marrying Mallika, I feel that I am her boyfriend. In fact, I believe this feeling enhances the charm and fun of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zayed-khan/even-after-marrying-mallika-i-feel-that-i-am-her-boyfriend-in-fact-i/) [Zayed Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zayed-khan/) > [Criticism even should not be without its charms. When quite devoid of all amenities, it is no longer literary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-joubert/criticism-even-should-not-be-without-its-charms-when-quite-devoid-of/) [Joseph Joubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-joubert/) > [“Never trust charm, it's the most powerful weapon in the devil's armory.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-gilbert/never-trust-charm-it-s-the-most-powerful-weapon-in-the-devil-s-armory/) [Anthony Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-gilbert/) > [Paul Taylor's 'Offenbach Overtures' has lots of zip and charm, and its pair of dueling soldiers in red, who end up starry-eyed about each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-gottlieb/paul-taylor-s-offenbach-overtures-has-lots-of-zip-and-charm-and-its/) [Robert Gottlieb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-gottlieb/) > [Time's stern tide, with cold Oblivion's wave, Shall soon dissolve each fair, each fading charm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-seward/time-s-stern-tide-with-cold-oblivion-s-wave-shall-soon-dissolve-each/) [Anna Seward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-seward/) > [Washington is a city of Southern efficiency and Northern charm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/washington-is-a-city-of-southern-efficiency-and-northern-charm/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) [Browse all 1,415 Charm quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/charm/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Knowledge would be fatal. It is the uncertainty that charms one. 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