--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Lady Bracknell: “He was eccentric, I…" description: "\"“Lady Bracknell: “He was eccentric, I admit. But only in later years. And that was the result of the Indian climate, and marriage, and indigestion, and..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f2/oscar-wilde-16_marriage_lady-bracknell-he-was-eccentric-i-admit_1603060.jpg" --- # Lady Bracknell: “He was eccentric, I admit. But only in… ![“Lady Bracknell: “He was eccentric, I admit. But only in later years. And that was the result of the Indian climate, and marriage, and indigestion, and other things of that kind.” quote by Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f2/oscar-wilde-16_marriage_lady-bracknell-he-was-eccentric-i-admit_1603060.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f2/oscar-wilde-16_marriage_lady-bracknell-he-was-eccentric-i-admit_1603060.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f2/oscar-wilde-16_marriage_lady-bracknell-he-was-eccentric-i-admit_1603060.jpg) > ““Lady Bracknell: “He was eccentric, I admit. But only in later years. And that was the result of the Indian climate, and marriage, and indigestion, and other things of that kind.”” [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 character humorously blames eccentricity on climate, marriage, and health, mocking excuses for odd behavior. **In simple terms:** Excuses mask true quirks. Key Takeaway Question the reasons we give for oddities. Themes humor social critique identity excuse Mood witty satirical Type literary observational When to use this quote - social gatherings - family dynamics - self-awareness - character analysis Key Concepts Victorian society psychology Questions to Reflect On - What real factors shape our behavior? - Do we overuse excuses? A Different Perspective Humor may hide deeper truths. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Eccentric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eccentric/) [Lady Bracknell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lady-bracknell/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) ## Related quotes > [I am eccentric, I admit it, but I am not a nutcase.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zaha-hadid/i-am-eccentric-i-admit-it-but-i-am-not-a-nutcase/) [Zaha Hadid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zaha-hadid/) > [“LADY BRACKNELL I had some crumpets with Lady Harbury, who seems to me to be living entirely for pleasure now. ALGERNON I hear her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/lady-bracknell-i-had-some-crumpets-with-lady-harbury-who-seems-to-me/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“LADY BRACKNELL: It is my last reception, and one wants something that will encourage conversation, particularly at the end of the season when every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/lady-bracknell-it-is-my-last-reception-and-one-wants-something-that/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Lady Bracknell: Is this Miss Prism a female of repellent aspect, remotely connected with education? Chasuble: (Somewhat indignantly) She is the most cultivated of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/lady-bracknell-is-this-miss-prism-a-female-of-repellent-aspect/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“LADY BRACKNELL Thirty-five is a very attractive age. London society is full of women of the very highest birth who have, of their own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/lady-bracknell-thirty-five-is-a-very-attractive-age-london-society-is/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Jack: Actually, I was found. Lady Bracknell: Found? Jack: Uh, yes, I was in... a handbag. Lady Bracknell: A handbag? Jack: Yes, it was...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/jack-actually-i-was-found-lady-bracknell-found-jack-uh-yes-i-was-in-a/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [LADY BRACKNELL Algernon is an extremely, I may almost say an ostentatiously, eligible young man. He has nothing, but he looks everything. What more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/lady-bracknell-algernon-is-an-extremely-i-may-almost-say-an/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“LADY BRACKNELL: Do you smoke? JACK: Well, yes, I must admit I smoke. LADY BRACKNELL: I am glad to hear it. A man should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/lady-bracknell-do-you-smoke-jack-well-yes-i-must-admit-i-smoke-lady/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Lady Bracknell. Good afternoon, dear Algernon, I hope you are behaving very well. Algernon. I’m feeling very well, Aunt Augusta. Lady Bracknell. That’s not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/lady-bracknell-good-afternoon-dear-algernon-i-hope-you-are-behaving/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“LADY BRACKNELL To speak frankly, I am not in favour of long engagements. They give people the opportunity of finding out each other's character…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/lady-bracknell-to-speak-frankly-i-am-not-in-favour-of-long/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Never met such a Gorgon . . . I don't really know what a Gorgon is like, but I am quite sure that Lady…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/never-met-such-a-gorgon-i-don-t-really-know-what-a-gorgon-is-like-but/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [ “LADY BRACKNELL. May I ask if it is in this house that your invalid friend Mr. Bunbury resides? ALGERNON. \[Stammering.\] Oh! No! Bunbury doesn't… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/lady-bracknell-may-i-ask-if-it-is-in-this-house-that-your-invalid/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [ “LADY BRACKNELL. \[Rising and drawing herself up.\] You must be quite aware that what you propose is out of the question. JACK. Then a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/lady-bracknell-rising-and-drawing-herself-up-you-must-be-quite-aware/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [LADY BRACKNELL: Do you smoke? JACK: Well, yes, I must admit I smoke. LADY BRACKNELL: I'm glad to hear it. A man should always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/lady-bracknell-do-you-smoke-jack-well-yes-i-must-admit-i-smoke-lady-2/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [I love David Suchet. I'm obsessed with Poirot. Then I saw him in 'The Importance of Being Earnest,' where he did Lady Bracknell, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-fielding/i-love-david-suchet-i-m-obsessed-with-poirot-then-i-saw-him-in-the/) [Noel Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-fielding/) ## 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 Eccentric quotes > [“This one’s mental.’ ‘Eccentric.’ ‘What’s the difference?’ ‘A bag of cash.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/this-one-s-mental-eccentric-what-s-the-difference-a-bag-of-cash/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [What am I in most people's eyes? A nonentity or an eccentric and disagreeable man... I should want my work to show what is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-van-gogh/what-am-i-in-most-people-s-eyes-a-nonentity-or-an-eccentric-and/) [Vincent Van Gogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-van-gogh/) > [“You can drink your soup ice-cold, but it's no longer soup; you can do eccentric things in life, but if you haven't been able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/you-can-drink-your-soup-ice-cold-but-it-s-no-longer-soup-you-can-do/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [There is all the difference in the world between departure from recognised rules by one who has learned to obey them, and neglect of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-terry/there-is-all-the-difference-in-the-world-between-departure-from/) [Ellen Terry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-terry/) > [I know I'm funny, because I'm eccentric, I'm odd. I'm not what you expect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-seldes/i-know-i-m-funny-because-i-m-eccentric-i-m-odd-i-m-not-what-you-expect/) [Marian Seldes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-seldes/) > [I was watching Monster's Ball, which is a fabulous movie. It's just a little gem: beautifully shot, and shot in a way I never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-lyne/i-was-watching-monster-s-ball-which-is-a-fabulous-movie-it-s-just-a/) [Adrian Lyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-lyne/) > [May the state fence in the harmless mentally ill solely to save its citizens from exposure to those whose ways are different? One might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/potter-stewart/may-the-state-fence-in-the-harmless-mentally-ill-solely-to-save-its/) [Potter Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/potter-stewart/) > [Eccentric is a difficult word because it's come to mean crazy. Avant-garde would be better. Eccentric is not "centric" in terms of having a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daphne-guinness/eccentric-is-a-difficult-word-because-it-s-come-to-mean-crazy-avant/) [Daphne Guinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daphne-guinness/) > [This twenty-year-old boy was distinguished from childhood by strange qualities, a dreamer and an eccentric. A girl fell in love with him, and he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bulgakov/this-twenty-year-old-boy-was-distinguished-from-childhood-by-strange/) [Mikhail Bulgakov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bulgakov/) > [Dean's California--wild, sweaty, important, the land of lonely and exiled and eccentric lovers come to forgather like birds, and the land where everybody somehow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/dean-s-california-wild-sweaty-important-the-land-of-lonely-and-exiled/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [It's thought of as an eccentric thing for an actor to really try to maintain quality control through the whole career. Most people think,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-reilly/it-s-thought-of-as-an-eccentric-thing-for-an-actor-to-really-try-to/) [John C. Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-reilly/) > [“Weirdism is definitely the cornerstone of many an artist's career.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/weirdism-is-definitely-the-cornerstone-of-many-an-artist-s-career/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't listen to the news. I don't read the newspaper unless it's eccentric information - and the obituaries, of course.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maira-kalman/i-don-t-listen-to-the-news-i-don-t-read-the-newspaper-unless-it-s/) [Maira Kalman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maira-kalman/) > [He insists on a version of you that is funnier, stranger, more eccentric and prfound thatn you suspect yourself to be--capable of doing more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cunningham/he-insists-on-a-version-of-you-that-is-funnier-stranger-more/) [Michael Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cunningham/) > [The man that found the 726-carat diamond in Africa, received $350,000 for it and wants to buy a farm and silk hat. Well, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-rogers/the-man-that-found-the-726-carat-diamond-in-africa-received-350-000/) [Will Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-rogers/) [Browse all 427 Eccentric quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eccentric/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Lady Bracknell: “He was eccentric, I admit. But only in later years. And that was the result of the Indian climate, and marriage, and indigestion, and other things of that kind.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Oscar Wilde" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/lady-bracknell-he-was-eccentric-i-admit-but-only-in-later-years-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Eccentric" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/lady-bracknell-he-was-eccentric-i-admit-but-only-in-later-years-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f2/oscar-wilde-16_marriage_lady-bracknell-he-was-eccentric-i-admit_1603060.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f2/oscar-wilde-16_marriage_lady-bracknell-he-was-eccentric-i-admit_1603060.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f2/oscar-wilde-16_marriage_lady-bracknell-he-was-eccentric-i-admit_1603060.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Lady Bracknell: “He was eccentric, I admit. But only in later years. And that was the result of the Indian…” — 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": "“Lady Bracknell: “He was eccentric, I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/lady-bracknell-he-was-eccentric-i-admit-but-only-in-later-years-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/lady-bracknell-he-was-eccentric-i-admit-but-only-in-later-years-and/#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 } } ] } ```