--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Other people are quite dreadful. The only…" description: "\"Other people are quite dreadful. The only possible society is oneself.\" — Oscar Wilde" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1d/oscar-wilde-16_community_other-people-are-quite-dreadful-the-only_1857787.jpg" --- # Other people are quite dreadful. The only possible society… ![“Other people are quite dreadful. The only possible society is oneself.” quote by Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1d/oscar-wilde-16_community_other-people-are-quite-dreadful-the-only_1857787.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1d/oscar-wilde-16_community_other-people-are-quite-dreadful-the-only_1857787.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1d/oscar-wilde-16_community_other-people-are-quite-dreadful-the-only_1857787.jpg) > “Other people are quite dreadful. The only possible society is oneself.” [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. Argues that individuals must look inward, as external society is often flawed and unreliable. **In simple terms:** Society is flawed; self‑reliance is essential. Key Takeaway Cultivate inner strength over reliance on others. Themes individualism skepticism self‑reliance philosophy critique Mood critical reflective philosophical Type literary personal When to use this quote - personal crises - social criticism - philosophical debates - creative pursuits Key Concepts existentialism human nature autonomy Questions to Reflect On - How can self‑reliance coexist with social responsibility? - When is external help necessary? A Different Perspective May ignore the value of communal support. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/) [Conformity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conformity/) [Non conformity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/non-conformity/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Witty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/witty/) ## Related quotes > [“The only possible society is oneself. To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-only-possible-society-is-oneself-to-love-oneself-is-the-beginning/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Fashion is what one wears oneself. What is unfashionable is what other people wear. Just as vulgarity is simply the conduct of other people.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/fashion-is-what-one-wears-oneself-what-is-unfashionable-is-what-other-2/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [To suppose such a thing possible as a society, in whichmen, who are able and willing to work, cannot support their families, and ought,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cobbett/to-suppose-such-a-thing-possible-as-a-society-in-whichmen-who-are/) [William Cobbett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cobbett/) > [The only hope of socialism resides in those who have already brought about in themselves, as far as is possible in the society of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/the-only-hope-of-socialism-resides-in-those-who-have-already-brought/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [The hero's will is not that of his ancestors nor of his society, but his own. This will to be oneself is heroism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-ortega-y-gasset/the-hero-s-will-is-not-that-of-his-ancestors-nor-of-his-society-but/) [Jose Ortega y Gasset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-ortega-y-gasset/) > [I must say to myself that I ruined myself, and that nobody great or small can be ruined except by his own hand. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/i-must-say-to-myself-that-i-ruined-myself-and-that-nobody-great-or/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [The mind of the thoroughly well-informed man is a dreadful thing. 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That is the dreadful word ... it is a meaningless word, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/always-that-is-the-dreadful-word-it-is-a-meaningless-word-too/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Non-conformity is the only real passion worth being ruled by.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-assange/non-conformity-is-the-only-real-passion-worth-being-ruled-by/) [Julian Assange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-assange/) > [The American people...have a stake in non-conformity. 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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 Community quotes > [Race is the idea that a human being is more superior than another human being, race in society grants illusional rights to mistreat each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-limn/race-is-the-idea-that-a-human-being-is-more-superior-than-another/) [Jeremy Limn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-limn/) > [But we are convinced that if we are to play a meaningful role nationally, and in the community of nations, we must be second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-sarabhai/but-we-are-convinced-that-if-we-are-to-play-a-meaningful-role/) [Vikram Sarabhai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-sarabhai/) > [In the hearing world, I'm constantly having to lip-read and trying to understand what's going on. 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