--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Now, the value of an idea has nothing…" description: "\"“Now, the value of an idea has nothing whatsoever to do with the sincerity of the man who expresses it. Indeed, the probabilities are that the more ins..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fa/oscar-wilde-16_sincerity_now-the-value-of-an-idea-has-nothing-wha_382736.jpg" --- # Now, the value of an idea has nothing whatsoever to do… ![“Now, the value of an idea has nothing whatsoever to do with the sincerity of the man who expresses it. Indeed, the probabilities are that the more insincere the man is, the more purely intellectual will the idea be, as in that case it will not be coloured by either his wants, his desires, or his…” quote by Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fa/oscar-wilde-16_sincerity_now-the-value-of-an-idea-has-nothing-wha_382736.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fa/oscar-wilde-16_sincerity_now-the-value-of-an-idea-has-nothing-wha_382736.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fa/oscar-wilde-16_sincerity_now-the-value-of-an-idea-has-nothing-wha_382736.jpg) > ““Now, the value of an idea has nothing whatsoever to do with the sincerity of the man who expresses it. Indeed, the probabilities are that the more insincere the man is, the more purely intellectual will the idea be, as in that case it will not be coloured by either his wants, his desires, or his prejudices.”” [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. Ideas can be valuable regardless of the speaker's sincerity; insincerity may even keep ideas pure from personal bias. **In simple terms:** Ideas' be valuable even if the speaker is insincere. Key Takeaway Evaluate ideas on merit, not speaker. Themes integrity ideas bias intellectual honesty Mood thoughtful critical Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - academic debate - political discourse - marketing pitches - personal relationships Key Concepts philosophy psychology ethics Questions to Reflect On - Do you judge ideas by their source? - How can we separate idea quality from speaker intent? A Different Perspective Insincere speakers may still have hidden agendas that affect idea reception. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Sincerity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sincerity/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [“the value of an idea has nothing whatsoever to do with the sincerity of the man who expresses it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-value-of-an-idea-has-nothing-whatsoever-to-do-with-the-sincerity/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“How English you are, Basil! That is the second time you have made that observation. If one puts forward an idea to a true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/how-english-you-are-basil-that-is-the-second-time-you-have-made-that/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [The value of an idea has nothing whatever to do with the sincerity of the man who expresses it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-value-of-an-idea-has-nothing-whatever-to-do-with-the-sincerity-of/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“How English you are, Basil! If one puts forward an idea to a real Englishman,— always a rash thing to do,—he never dreams of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/how-english-you-are-basil-if-one-puts-forward-an-idea-to-a-real/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [By sincerity, a man gains physical, mental and linguistic straightforwardness, and harmonious tendency; that is, congruence of speech and action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahavira/by-sincerity-a-man-gains-physical-mental-and-linguistic/) [Mahavira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahavira/) > [Do you expect sincerity in man when hypocrisy is the very keynote of human nature? We are nurtured on it; we are schooled in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-sabatini/do-you-expect-sincerity-in-man-when-hypocrisy-is-the-very-keynote-of/) [Rafael Sabatini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-sabatini/) > [Miserable is the man who loves a woman and takes her for his wife, pouring at her feet the sweat of his skin and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/miserable-is-the-man-who-loves-a-woman-and-takes-her-for-his-wife/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [“The value of an idea has nothing to do with the honesty of the man expressing it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-value-of-an-idea-has-nothing-to-do-with-the-honesty-of-the-man/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [The ideas for my books come about in two ways. There can be an intellectual idea that seems to be the reason for writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-eugenides/the-ideas-for-my-books-come-about-in-two-ways-there-can-be-an/) [Jeffrey Eugenides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-eugenides/) > [“An ad hominem attack against an intellectual, not against an idea, is highly flattering. It indicates that the person does not have anything intelligent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nassim-nicholas-taleb/an-ad-hominem-attack-against-an-intellectual-not-against-an-idea-is/) [Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nassim-nicholas-taleb/) > [I could draw ideas. I remember writing a paper for a seminar class. I remember writing a paper about - and this is going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-gyllenhaal/i-could-draw-ideas-i-remember-writing-a-paper-for-a-seminar-class-i/) [Jake Gyllenhaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-gyllenhaal/) > [“I am sometimes asked about the concept or definition of a 'public intellectual,' and though I find the whole idea faintly silly, I believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/i-am-sometimes-asked-about-the-concept-or-definition-of-a-public/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [The invention of the scientific method and science is, I'm sure we'll all agree, the most powerful intellectual idea, the most powerful framework for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/the-invention-of-the-scientific-method-and-science-is-i-m-sure-we-ll/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [I didn't know many classes where I could try and relate the thing that I really loved and wanted to do into an intellectual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-gyllenhaal/i-didn-t-know-many-classes-where-i-could-try-and-relate-the-thing/) [Jake Gyllenhaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-gyllenhaal/) > [Somewhere between the intellectual idea of why we're attracted to certain things and the pragmatic reality is some form of ever-evolving truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-corgan/somewhere-between-the-intellectual-idea-of-why-we-re-attracted-to/) [Billy Corgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-corgan/) ## 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. 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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 Sincerity quotes > [Holiness sincerity, and faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/holiness-sincerity-and-faith/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [When you really need help, people will respond. Sincerity means dropping the image facade and showing a willingness to be vulnerable. Tell it the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-canfield/when-you-really-need-help-people-will-respond-sincerity-means/) [Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/) > [“Teach honesty by all means - you do know what it is, don't you?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/teach-honesty-by-all-means-you-do-know-what-it-is-don-t-you/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [Children go where they find sincerity and authenticity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-cantona/children-go-where-they-find-sincerity-and-authenticity/) [Eric Cantona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-cantona/) > [The sincere alone can recognize sincerity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/the-sincere-alone-can-recognize-sincerity/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [Sincerity is the foundation of the spiritual life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/sincerity-is-the-foundation-of-the-spiritual-life/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Our love must not be a thing of words and fine talk. It must be a thing of action and sincerity (1 John 3:18).](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bible/our-love-must-not-be-a-thing-of-words-and-fine-talk-it-must-be-a/) [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bible/) > [Once you can fake sincerity, you can fake anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-jo-putney/once-you-can-fake-sincerity-you-can-fake-anything/) [Mary Jo Putney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-jo-putney/) > [That humanity and sincerity which dispose men to resist injustice and tyranny render them unfit to cope with the cunning and power of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/that-humanity-and-sincerity-which-dispose-men-to-resist-injustice-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Human beings have the incredible capacity for denial. I think they do. And although it's really hard to believe, I have my doubts. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-byrne/human-beings-have-the-incredible-capacity-for-denial-i-think-they-do/) [David Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-byrne/) > [A false mind is false in everything, just as a cross eye always looks askant. But one may err once, nay, a hundred times,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-joubert/a-false-mind-is-false-in-everything-just-as-a-cross-eye-always-looks/) [Joseph Joubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-joubert/) > [“An atheist is someone who is disappointed in his search of god. He is a man who strongly needed god but couldn't find him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/an-atheist-is-someone-who-is-disappointed-in-his-search-of-god-he-is/) [Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/) > [Perfect health, sincerity, honesty, straightforwardness, courage, disinterestedness, unselfishness, patience, endurance, perseverance, peace, calm, self control are all things that are taught infinitely better by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-aurobindo/perfect-health-sincerity-honesty-straightforwardness-courage/) [Sri Aurobindo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-aurobindo/) > [All sincere boys fall in love with stupid girls, all sincere girls fall in love with stupid boys, I am neither stupid nor sincere,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/all-sincere-boys-fall-in-love-with-stupid-girls-all-sincere-girls/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) > [I have received delegations of working men who, apparently speaking with the utmost sincerity, have declared that they would regard it as a genuine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/i-have-received-delegations-of-working-men-who-apparently-speaking/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) [Browse all 1,088 Sincerity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sincerity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Now, the value of an idea has nothing whatsoever to do with the sincerity of the man who expresses it. 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