--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Unless one is wealthy there is no use in…" description: "\"Unless one is wealthy there is no use in being a charming fellow. Romance is the privilege of the rich, not the profession of the unemployed. The poor ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8a/oscar-wilde-16_charming_unless-one-is-wealthy-there-is-no-use-in_2877971.jpg" --- # Unless one is wealthy there is no use in being a charming… ![“Unless one is wealthy there is no use in being a charming fellow. Romance is the privilege of the rich, not the profession of the unemployed. The poor should be practical and prosaic. It is better to have a permanent income than to be fascinating.” quote by Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8a/oscar-wilde-16_charming_unless-one-is-wealthy-there-is-no-use-in_2877971.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8a/oscar-wilde-16_charming_unless-one-is-wealthy-there-is-no-use-in_2877971.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8a/oscar-wilde-16_charming_unless-one-is-wealthy-there-is-no-use-in_2877971.jpg) > “Unless one is wealthy there is no use in being a charming fellow. Romance is the privilege of the rich, not the profession of the unemployed. The poor should be practical and prosaic. It is better to have a permanent income than to be fascinating.” [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 quote asserts that romance and charm are luxuries afforded only by the wealthy, suggesting the poor must prioritize practicality over allure. **In simple terms:** Romance is a luxury for the rich, not the poor. Key Takeaway Value practicality while appreciating charm when possible. Themes class romance practicality Mood wry thoughtful Type philosophical satirical When to use this quote - career - relationships - financial planning - social interaction Key Concepts sociology philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How does financial status affect romantic pursuits? - Can charm be cultivated without wealth? A Different Perspective Romance can exist regardless of wealth; this view may be overly cynical. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Charming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/charming/) [Charming man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/charming-man/) [Fascinating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fascinating/) [Fellows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fellows/) [Income](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/income/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Permanent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/permanent/) [Poor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor/) [Practicals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practicals/) [Privilege](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/privilege/) [Profession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/profession/) [Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rich/) [Rich Profession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rich-profession-3972398/) [Romance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/romance/) [Romance Privilege](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/romance-privilege-3972397/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Unemployed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unemployed/) [Unemployed Poor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unemployed-poor-1619624/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) [Wealthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealthy/) ## Related quotes > [“Unless one is wealthy there is no use in being a charming fellow. Romance is the priviledge of the rich, not the profession of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/unless-one-is-wealthy-there-is-no-use-in-being-a-charming-fellow/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Old maids like the houseless and unemployed poor, should not ask for a place and an occupation in the world: the demand disturbs the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/old-maids-like-the-houseless-and-unemployed-poor-should-not-ask-for-a/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [I don't think there's been any writer like Samuel Beckett. He's unique. He was a most charming man and I used to send him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-pinter/i-don-t-think-there-s-been-any-writer-like-samuel-beckett-he-s-unique/) [Harold Pinter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-pinter/) > [My pa is a brilliant, charming man. We go out and play together and laugh a lot. He has a twinkle in his eye.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/my-pa-is-a-brilliant-charming-man-we-go-out-and-play-together-and/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [The tea ceremony requires years of training and practice ... yet the whole of this art, as to its detail, signifies no more than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lafcadio-hearn/the-tea-ceremony-requires-years-of-training-and-practice-yet-the/) [Lafcadio Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lafcadio-hearn/) > [My dad, was the archetypal charming man. If I've inherited even a small bit of what he had that would be enough for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillip-schofield/my-dad-was-the-archetypal-charming-man-if-i-ve-inherited-even-a-small/) [Phillip Schofield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillip-schofield/) > [I call'd the devil, and he came, And with wonder his form did I closely scan; He is not ugly, and is not lame,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-heine/i-call-d-the-devil-and-he-came-and-with-wonder-his-form-did-i-closely/) [Heinrich Heine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-heine/) > [They say that the Devil is a charming man. And just like you I bet he can dance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-bush/they-say-that-the-devil-is-a-charming-man-and-just-like-you-i-bet-he/) [Kate Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-bush/) > [“Charming man," he said. 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The infrastructure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-illich/in-an-advanced-industrial-society-it-becomes-almost-impossible-to/) [Ivan Illich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-illich/) > [“Housework, handicrafts, subsistence agriculture, radical technology, learning exchanges, and the like are degraded into activities for the idle, the unproductive, the very poor, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-illich/housework-handicrafts-subsistence-agriculture-radical-technology/) [Ivan Illich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-illich/) > [God wants us to show compassion and understanding toward the unemployed or the poor not because they are poor, but because poor people, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-zane-pilzer/god-wants-us-to-show-compassion-and-understanding-toward-the/) [Paul Zane Pilzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-zane-pilzer/) > [One should not be too severe on English novels; they are the only relaxation of the intellectually unemployed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/one-should-not-be-too-severe-on-english-novels-they-are-the-only/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“The English novels are the only relaxation of the intellectually unemployed. But one should not be too severe on them. They show a want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-english-novels-are-the-only-relaxation-of-the-intellectually/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Those who find ugly meanings in beautiful things are corrupt without being charming. This is a fault. Those who find beautiful meanings in beautiful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/those-who-find-ugly-meanings-in-beautiful-things-are-corrupt-without-2/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) ## 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 Charming quotes > [In some circles where very heavy people think they have very heavy brains, words like "charming" and "clever" and "pretty" are all put-downs; all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/in-some-circles-where-very-heavy-people-think-they-have-very-heavy/) [Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/) > [Anybody can be Prince Charming one day a year, with the dinner and the flowers and all that. But you know what impresses me?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-howard/anybody-can-be-prince-charming-one-day-a-year-with-the-dinner-and-the/) [Ryan Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-howard/) > [Ninety-eight percent of the things that come out of my mouth are intended to be harmless or even charming. They're not ever intended to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-fox/ninety-eight-percent-of-the-things-that-come-out-of-my-mouth-are/) [Megan Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-fox/) > [Falling out of love is chiefly a matter of forgetting how charming someone is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iris-murdoch/falling-out-of-love-is-chiefly-a-matter-of-forgetting-how-charming/) [Iris Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iris-murdoch/) > [You have to be nicer to me," I said. Again he laughed. "What? I'm the King of nice. What are you talking about?" "You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-myracle/you-have-to-be-nicer-to-me-i-said-again-he-laughed-what-i-m-the-king/) [Lauren Myracle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-myracle/) > [Everything was so designed by Hannibal to break down Will in the first season, until Will's sanity became questionable. It's so much easier to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-fuller/everything-was-so-designed-by-hannibal-to-break-down-will-in-the/) [Bryan Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-fuller/) > [Old Etonians are the most charming people in the world. It's not just the analytic ability and the great education; there is a really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-wade/old-etonians-are-the-most-charming-people-in-the-world-it-s-not-just/) [Laura Wade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-wade/) > [My beloved friend - one of the most unique and charming personalities of our time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/my-beloved-friend-one-of-the-most-unique-and-charming-personalities/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [Wouldn’t that make a charming epitaph? Here lies Cat. Killed not by fang, but Ferragamos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeaniene-frost/wouldn-t-that-make-a-charming-epitaph-here-lies-cat-killed-not-by/) [Jeaniene Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeaniene-frost/) > [Sir, money, money, the most charming of all things; money, which will say more in one moment than the most elegant lover can in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/sir-money-money-the-most-charming-of-all-things-money-which-will-say/) [Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) > [Charming Alnaschar visions! it is the happy privilege of youth to construct you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/charming-alnaschar-visions-it-is-the-happy-privilege-of-youth-to/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [I wasn‘t—" I began. I didn‘t—" He began. How charming," V‘lane cut us off. His voice arrived before he did. 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Sometimes the worst criminals are also some of the most charming people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taryn-manning/there-are-likable-characters-in-prison-sometimes-the-worst-criminals/) [Taryn Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taryn-manning/) > [The secular mind and heart, however gifted and personally charming, has no place in the leadership of the church.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-oswald-sanders/the-secular-mind-and-heart-however-gifted-and-personally-charming-has/) [J. Oswald Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-oswald-sanders/) [Browse all 808 Charming quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/charming/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Unless one is wealthy there is no use in being a charming fellow. Romance is the privilege of the rich, not the profession of the unemployed. The poor should be practical and prosaic. 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