--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Things are in their essence what we…" description: "\"Things are in their essence what we choose to make them. A thing is, according to the mode in which one looks at it.\" — Oscar Wilde" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9cf/oscar-wilde-16_essence_things-are-in-their-essence-what-we-choo_1472501.jpg" --- # Things are in their essence what we choose to make them. A… ![“Things are in their essence what we choose to make them. A thing is, according to the mode in which one looks at it.” quote by Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9cf/oscar-wilde-16_essence_things-are-in-their-essence-what-we-choo_1472501.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9cf/oscar-wilde-16_essence_things-are-in-their-essence-what-we-choo_1472501.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9cf/oscar-wilde-16_essence_things-are-in-their-essence-what-we-choo_1472501.jpg) > “Things are in their essence what we choose to make them. A thing is, according to the mode in which one looks at it.” [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. Essence depends on perspective; we assign meaning based on our viewpoint. **In simple terms:** Meaning is shaped by how we look at things. Key Takeaway Recognize the power of perspective. Themes perception subjectivity meaning Mood thoughtful reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - art criticism - personal decisions - conflict resolution - creative writing Key Concepts philosophy psychology relativism Questions to Reflect On - How does your viewpoint shape reality? - Can you see alternative interpretations? A Different Perspective Perspective can be biased or limited. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [According Mode](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/according-mode-5346114/) [Essence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/essence/) [Events](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/events/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Mode](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mode/) [Mode Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mode-looks-5346113/) [Thing According](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-according-5346112/) [Things Essence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-essence-3353161/) ## Related quotes > [Names and attributes must be accommodated to the essence of things, and not the essence to the names, since things come first and names…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galileo-galilei/names-and-attributes-must-be-accommodated-to-the-essence-of-things/) [Galileo Galilei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/galileo-galilei/) > [The essence of a person is not the clothing she wears or the things he does. People who love them do not stop loving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/the-essence-of-a-person-is-not-the-clothing-she-wears-or-the-things/) [Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/) > [I decided I like that mode. It's how I think - it's my voice. I like being funny and sad at the same time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deb-olin-unferth/i-decided-i-like-that-mode-it-s-how-i-think-it-s-my-voice-i-like/) [Deb Olin Unferth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deb-olin-unferth/) > [I really believe that the more distractions and fixes I remove from my life, the better I'll feel about myself. The biggest of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-gahan/i-really-believe-that-the-more-distractions-and-fixes-i-remove-from/) [Dave Gahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-gahan/) > [I can only say that there is not a man living who wishes more sincerely than I do, to see a plan adopted for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/i-can-only-say-that-there-is-not-a-man-living-who-wishes-more/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [The love of their country is with them only a mode of flattering its master; as soon as they think that master can no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marquis-de-custine/the-love-of-their-country-is-with-them-only-a-mode-of-flattering-its/) [Marquis De Custine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marquis-de-custine/) > [I know when it's getting close to game time, I create a different playlist for each and every game. Before the game, to game…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cam-newton/i-know-when-it-s-getting-close-to-game-time-i-create-a-different/) [Cam Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cam-newton/) > [I think the way the audience takes the Indian film-star is a little different from the way the audience takes the Western star there.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-think-the-way-the-audience-takes-the-indian-film-star-is-a-little/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When I'm at home, I am in full Dad mode, and I love it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ant-middleton/when-i-m-at-home-i-am-in-full-dad-mode-and-i-love-it/) [Ant Middleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ant-middleton/) > [If we're given a number of circumstances to deal with, the brain goes into this mode of trying to find a solution, and it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-brion/if-we-re-given-a-number-of-circumstances-to-deal-with-the-brain-goes/) [Jon Brion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-brion/) > [I've noticed that the more adventurous and in that mode that I am, it seems that the more the audience really likes it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chick-corea/i-ve-noticed-that-the-more-adventurous-and-in-that-mode-that-i-am-it/) [Chick Corea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chick-corea/) > [I know this will blow your mind, but most people would probably never ever get it, but I listen to classical music when nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanilla-ice/i-know-this-will-blow-your-mind-but-most-people-would-probably-never/) [Vanilla Ice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanilla-ice/) > [In the 1950s and early 1960s, psychoanalysis swept through the intellectual community, and it was the dominant mode of thinking about the mind. People…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-kandel/in-the-1950s-and-early-1960s-psychoanalysis-swept-through-the/) [Eric Kandel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-kandel/) > [Sometimes I can switch into clever mode.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-lingard/sometimes-i-can-switch-into-clever-mode/) [Jesse Lingard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-lingard/) > [There are definite reference points to older Depeche Mode records.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-gore/there-are-definite-reference-points-to-older-depeche-mode-records/) [Martin Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-gore/) ## 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 Essence quotes > [“THE ESSENCE OF YOUR DESIRE IS A FEELING”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-laporte/the-essence-of-your-desire-is-a-feeling/) [Danielle LaPorte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-laporte/) > [Everything in dancing is style, allusion, the essence of many thoughts and feelings. The abstraction of many moments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-ailey/everything-in-dancing-is-style-allusion-the-essence-of-many-thoughts/) [Alvin Ailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-ailey/) > [Spiritually, life is a festival, a celebration. Joy is of the essence of life;](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnivesh/spiritually-life-is-a-festival-a-celebration-joy-is-of-the-essence-of/) [Agnivesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnivesh/) > [When you approach something to photograph it, first be still with yourself until the object of your attention affirms your presence. Then don't leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minor-white/when-you-approach-something-to-photograph-it-first-be-still-with/) [Minor White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minor-white/) > [It's all the unwordable things one wants to write about, just as it's all the unformable things one wants to paint - essence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-carr/it-s-all-the-unwordable-things-one-wants-to-write-about-just-as-it-s/) [Emily Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-carr/) > [In essence, I see the value of journalism as resting in a twofold mission: informing the public of accurate and vital information, and its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/in-essence-i-see-the-value-of-journalism-as-resting-in-a-twofold/) [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) > [Curiosity is the essence of human existence. 'Who are we? Where are we? Where do we come from? Where are we going?'... I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/curiosity-is-the-essence-of-human-existence-who-are-we-where-are-we/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The essence of worldliness is exclusion of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-jacobsen/the-essence-of-worldliness-is-exclusion-of-god/) [Henry Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-jacobsen/) > [I am alive. Up here with the song of the engine and the air whispering on my face as the sunlight and shadows play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-coonts/i-am-alive-up-here-with-the-song-of-the-engine-and-the-air-whispering/) [Stephen Coonts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-coonts/) > [The essence of Christianity...is an ever-new encounter with... the God who speaks to us, who approaches us and who befriends us!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/the-essence-of-christianity-is-an-ever-new-encounter-with-the-god-who/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [The wisdom or the essence of Guru Tattwa is a balance. Like when you maintain a plant, if you do not give it water…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nirmala-srivastava/the-wisdom-or-the-essence-of-guru-tattwa-is-a-balance-like-when-you/) [Nirmala Srivastava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nirmala-srivastava/) > [This is the pathless path - returning to where you were initially before you got lost. The deepest truth in you is where the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/this-is-the-pathless-path-returning-to-where-you-were-initially/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [Communism... is the genuine resolution of the antagonism between man and nature and between man and man; it is the true resolution of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/communism-is-the-genuine-resolution-of-the-antagonism-between-man-and/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [I'm not so much in the future as always in the present. The future always takes care of itself. What I do now with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonas-mekas/i-m-not-so-much-in-the-future-as-always-in-the-present-the-future/) [Jonas Mekas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonas-mekas/) > [The essence of the stage is concentration and penetration. Of the screen action, movement, sweep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elia-kazan/the-essence-of-the-stage-is-concentration-and-penetration-of-the/) [Elia Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elia-kazan/) [Browse all 3,115 Essence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/essence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Things are in their essence what we choose to make them. 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