--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: She has form,\" he said to himself, as he…" description: "\"She has form,\" he said to himself, as he walked away through the grove - \"that cannot be denied to her; but has she got feeling? I am afraid not. In fa..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b55/oscar-wilde-16_art_she-has-form-he-said-to-himself-as-he-wa_2762635.jpg" --- # She has form," he said to himself, as he walked away… ![“She has form," he said to himself, as he walked away through the grove - "that cannot be denied to her; but has she got feeling? I am afraid not. In fact, she is like most artists; she is all style, without any sincerity. She would not sacrifice herself for others. She thinks merely of music, and…” quote by Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b55/oscar-wilde-16_art_she-has-form-he-said-to-himself-as-he-wa_2762635.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b55/oscar-wilde-16_art_she-has-form-he-said-to-himself-as-he-wa_2762635.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b55/oscar-wilde-16_art_she-has-form-he-said-to-himself-as-he-wa_2762635.jpg) > “She has form," he said to himself, as he walked away through the grove - "that cannot be denied to her; but has she got feeling? I am afraid not. In fact, she is like most artists; she is all style, without any sincerity. She would not sacrifice herself for others. She thinks merely of music, and everybody knows that arts are selfish. Still, it must be admitted that she has some beautiful notes in her voice. What a pity it is that they do not mean anything, or do any practical good.” [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 speaker admires the subject's technical skill but criticizes her lack of genuine feeling and selflessness, seeing art as superficial and selfish. **In simple terms:** Technical skill without heart feels empty. Key Takeaway Seek authenticity over style. Themes art authenticity selfishness critique beauty Mood critical skeptical Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - evaluating art - personal relationships - creative professions Key Concepts aestheticism existentialism moral judgment Questions to Reflect On - What makes art truly valuable? - Can style ever replace sincerity? A Different Perspective Art can be beautiful yet lack meaningful impact. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Arts Selfish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arts-selfish-3180546/) [Beautiful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beautiful/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Form](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/form/) [Grove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grove/) [Like Artists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-artists/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Notes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/notes/) [Pity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pity/) [Practicals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practicals/) [Sacrifice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sacrifice/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Selfish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfish/) [Sincerity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sincerity/) [Sincerity Sacrifice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sincerity-sacrifice-3180547/) [Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stills/) [Style](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/style/) [Style Sincerity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/style-sincerity-2188299/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voice/) ## Related quotes > [In all unimportant matters, style, not sincerity, is the essential. In all important matters, style, not sincerity, is the essential.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/in-all-unimportant-matters-style-not-sincerity-is-the-essential-in/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“True. In matters of grave importance, style, not sincerity, is the vital thing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/true-in-matters-of-grave-importance-style-not-sincerity-is-the-vital/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“In matters of great importance, style, not sincerity is the vital thing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/in-matters-of-great-importance-style-not-sincerity-is-the-vital-thing/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [In matters of grave importance, style, not sincerity, is the vital thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/in-matters-of-grave-importance-style-not-sincerity-is-the-vital-thing/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Palermo was lovely. The most beautifully situated town in the world - it dreams away its life in the Conca d'Oro, the exquisite valley…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/palermo-was-lovely-the-most-beautifully-situated-town-in-the-world-it/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [The worst vice of a fanatic is his sincerity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-worst-vice-of-a-fanatic-is-his-sincerity/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Sincerity is the last refuge of the shallow.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/sincerity-is-the-last-refuge-of-the-shallow/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“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/) > [“Now, the value of an idea has nothing whatsoever to do with the sincerity of the man who expresses it. Indeed, the probabilities are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/now-the-value-of-an-idea-has-nothing-whatsoever-to-do-with-the/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [A little sincerity is a dangerous thing, and a great deal of it is absolutely fatal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/a-little-sincerity-is-a-dangerous-thing-and-a-great-deal-of-it-is/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Taking sides is the beginning of sincerity, and earnestness follows shortly afterwards, and the human being becomes a bore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/taking-sides-is-the-beginning-of-sincerity-and-earnestness-follows/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [One of the interesting things here is that the people who should be shaping the future are politicians. But the political framework itself is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-yorke/one-of-the-interesting-things-here-is-that-the-people-who-should-be/) [Thom Yorke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-yorke/) > [Auditioning is a horrible experience because you know you are being absolutely scrutinized and judged. There are days where you can do it and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-reilly/auditioning-is-a-horrible-experience-because-you-know-you-are-being/) [Kelly Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-reilly/) > [In my mind jealousy would come with seeing people do something that makes it all look extremely easy when it's not, like artists who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-michael-bendis/in-my-mind-jealousy-would-come-with-seeing-people-do-something-that/) [Brian Michael Bendis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-michael-bendis/) > [Every time I'm in the studio, I always think of my professor in undergrad. He was like, "There are so many artists in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wardell-milan/every-time-i-m-in-the-studio-i-always-think-of-my-professor-in/) [Wardell Milan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wardell-milan/) ## 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 Art quotes > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/hear-the-sum-of-the-whole-matter-in-the-compass-of-one-brief-word/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) [Taf Teh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taf-teh/) > [The house has to serve comfort. 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I am afraid not. In fact, she is like most artists; she is all style, without any sincerity. She would not sacrifice herself for others. She thinks merely of music, and everybody knows that arts are selfish. Still, it must be admitted that she has some beautiful notes in her voice. 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