--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The trouble with the lower classes is…" description: "\"The trouble with the lower classes is that they lack the sense of tragedy given to them by the upper classes.\" — Oscar Wilde" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a2/oscar-wilde-16_class_the-trouble-with-the-lower-classes-is-th_3210282.jpg" --- # The trouble with the lower classes is that they lack the… ![“The trouble with the lower classes is that they lack the sense of tragedy given to them by the upper classes.” quote by Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a2/oscar-wilde-16_class_the-trouble-with-the-lower-classes-is-th_3210282.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a2/oscar-wilde-16_class_the-trouble-with-the-lower-classes-is-th_3210282.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a2/oscar-wilde-16_class_the-trouble-with-the-lower-classes-is-th_3210282.jpg) > “The trouble with the lower classes is that they lack the sense of tragedy given to them by the upper classes.” [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. Upper classes shape cultural narratives, leaving lower classes without a shared sense of tragedy. **In simple terms:** Social hierarchy influences shared emotional experiences. Key Takeaway Recognize how class shapes perspective. Themes class culture tragedy social hierarchy Mood analytical insightful Type sociological philosophical When to use this quote - education - media representation - community building Key Concepts social stratification collective memory empathy Questions to Reflect On - How does class affect emotional expression? - Can shared narratives be created across class lines? A Different Perspective The view may overlook individual agency within lower classes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class/) [Classes Lack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/classes-lack-5995463/) [Given](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/given/) [Lack Sense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lack-sense-379791/) [Lower class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lower-class/) [Lower Classes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lower-classes-305142/) [Sense Tragedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sense-tragedy-405436/) [Tragedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tragedy/) [Trouble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trouble/) [Upper class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/upper-class/) [Upper Classes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/upper-classes-271644/) ## Related quotes > [Much of what is today called "social criticism" consists of members of the upper classes denouncing the tastes of the lower classes (bawdy entertainment,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/much-of-what-is-today-called-social-criticism-consists-of-members-of/) [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) > [Morality is only for the middle class, sweet. The lower class can't afford it, and the upper classes have entirely too much leisure time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/morality-is-only-for-the-middle-class-sweet-the-lower-class-can-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I have no doubt but that the misery of the lower classes will be found to abate wherever the Government assumes a freer aspect,&…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/i-have-no-doubt-but-that-the-misery-of-the-lower-classes-will-be-2/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [All the old history was written for the amusement of the ruling classes. The lower classes couldn't read, and their rulers didn't care about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/all-the-old-history-was-written-for-the-amusement-of-the-ruling/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [There is always more misery among the lower classes than there is humanity in the higher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/there-is-always-more-misery-among-the-lower-classes-than-there-is/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [Capitalism has always been a failure for the lower classes. It is now beginning to fail for the middle classes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/capitalism-has-always-been-a-failure-for-the-lower-classes-it-is-now/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [The lower classes of men, though they do not think it worthwhile to record what they perceive, nevertheless perceive everything that is worth noting;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-c-lichtenberg/the-lower-classes-of-men-though-they-do-not-think-it-worthwhile-to/) [Georg C. Lichtenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-c-lichtenberg/) > [I never knew that the lower classes had such white skins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-curzon-1st-marquess-curzon-of-kedleston/i-never-knew-that-the-lower-classes-had-such-white-skins/) [George Curzon, 1st Marquess Curzon of Kedleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-curzon-1st-marquess-curzon-of-kedleston/) > [Necessity is the constant scourge of the lower classes, ennui of the higher ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/necessity-is-the-constant-scourge-of-the-lower-classes-ennui-of-the/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [My plan of instruction is extremely simple and limited. They learn, on week-days, such coarse works as may fit them for servants. I allow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-more/my-plan-of-instruction-is-extremely-simple-and-limited-they-learn-on/) [Hannah More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-more/) > [We lose our bearings entirely by speaking of the 'lower classes' when we mean humanity minus ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-lose-our-bearings-entirely-by-speaking-of-the-lower-classes-when/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The correct relationship between the higher and lower classes, the appropriate mutual interaction between the two is, as such, the true underlying support on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-gottlieb-fichte/the-correct-relationship-between-the-higher-and-lower-classes-the/) [Johann Gottlieb Fichte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-gottlieb-fichte/) > [Of course the lower classes have always felt downtrodden and aspired to a better life. But there is this theory that people respond to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-lewis/of-course-the-lower-classes-have-always-felt-downtrodden-and-aspired/) [Damian Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-lewis/) > [The lower classes are such fools. They waste their money on the pools. I bet, of course, but that's misleading. One must encourage bloodstock…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-ballantrae-bernard-fergusson/the-lower-classes-are-such-fools-they-waste-their-money-on-the-pools/) [Baron Ballantrae Bernard Fergusson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-ballantrae-bernard-fergusson/) > [Exemplary people concern themselves with virtue, small people concern themselves with territory. The ruling class thinks of punishment, the lower classes hope for benevolence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/exemplary-people-concern-themselves-with-virtue-small-people-concern/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) ## 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 Class quotes > [Where I grew up, learning was a collective activity. But when I got to school and tried to share learning with other students that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/where-i-grew-up-learning-was-a-collective-activity-but-when-i-got-to/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [If I had to guess and put a name on it, I'd say that at some point, the drug war was as much a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-simon/if-i-had-to-guess-and-put-a-name-on-it-i-d-say-that-at-some-point-the/) [David Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-simon/) > [I grew up in the middle class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-scaramucci/i-grew-up-in-the-middle-class/) [Anthony Scaramucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-scaramucci/) > [It must be assumed and established as a principle, that the right of private property must be regarded as sacred. Wherefore, the law ought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-xiii/it-must-be-assumed-and-established-as-a-principle-that-the-right-of/) [Pope Leo XIII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-xiii/) > [The rich people are apparently leaving America. They're giving up their citizenship. These great lovers of America who made their money in this country-when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/the-rich-people-are-apparently-leaving-america-they-re-giving-up/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [I certainly don't think that the heirs of the American Revolution were a particularly noble class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-brands/i-certainly-don-t-think-that-the-heirs-of-the-american-revolution/) [H. W. Brands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-brands/) > [You’re crazy,” said her best friend, Angela, as the bell rang to signal five minutes before the first class on the first day back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/you-re-crazy-said-her-best-friend-angela-as-the-bell-rang-to-signal/) [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) > [“Poor people do not go on holiday; they go home.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/poor-people-do-not-go-on-holiday-they-go-home/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [Because there are three classes of intellects: one which comprehends by itself; another which appreciates what others comprehend; and a third which neither comprehends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/because-there-are-three-classes-of-intellects-one-which-comprehends/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Right now, for many Americans, class is being foregrounded like never before because of the economic situation. It doesn't mean that race doesn't matter,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/right-now-for-many-americans-class-is-being-foregrounded-like-never/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [But I don't think the Democratic Party is at eye level with the middle class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-i-don-t-think-the-democratic-party-is-at-eye-level-with-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm not a dancer. Never took a dance class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrishell-stause/i-m-not-a-dancer-never-took-a-dance-class/) [Chrishell Stause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrishell-stause/) > [Most startups are not just built for the person who is using them. When you do that, every now and then you get really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmett-shear/most-startups-are-not-just-built-for-the-person-who-is-using-them/) [Emmett Shear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmett-shear/) > [The structure of the Swiss ruling class is rock-hard, and unchanged since the time of Napoleon. They sit on their mountains and lecture the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-ziegler/the-structure-of-the-swiss-ruling-class-is-rock-hard-and-unchanged/) [Jean Ziegler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-ziegler/) > [We are not going back to the failed policies of the past. We are fighting for the middle class!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/we-are-not-going-back-to-the-failed-policies-of-the-past-we-are/) [Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/) [Browse all 7,637 Class quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The trouble with the lower classes is that they lack the sense of tragedy given to them by the upper classes.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Oscar Wilde" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-trouble-with-the-lower-classes-is-that-they-lack-the-sense-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Class" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-trouble-with-the-lower-classes-is-that-they-lack-the-sense-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a2/oscar-wilde-16_class_the-trouble-with-the-lower-classes-is-th_3210282.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a2/oscar-wilde-16_class_the-trouble-with-the-lower-classes-is-th_3210282.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a2/oscar-wilde-16_class_the-trouble-with-the-lower-classes-is-th_3210282.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The trouble with the lower classes is that they lack the sense of tragedy given to them by the upper classes.” — 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": "The trouble with the lower classes...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-trouble-with-the-lower-classes-is-that-they-lack-the-sense-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-trouble-with-the-lower-classes-is-that-they-lack-the-sense-of/#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 } } ] } ```