--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Well, I must say, Algernon, that I think…" description: "\"“Well, I must say, Algernon, that I think it is high time that Mr. Bunbury made up his mind whether he was going to live or to die. This shilly-shallyi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d8/oscar-wilde-16_psychology_well-i-must-say-algernon-that-i-think-it_1668802.jpg" --- # Well, I must say, Algernon, that I think it is high time… ![“Well, I must say, Algernon, that I think it is high time that Mr. Bunbury made up his mind whether he was going to live or to die. This shilly-shallying with the question is absurd. Nor do I in any way approve of the modern sympathy with invalids. I consider it morbid. Illness of any kind is…” quote by Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d8/oscar-wilde-16_psychology_well-i-must-say-algernon-that-i-think-it_1668802.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d8/oscar-wilde-16_psychology_well-i-must-say-algernon-that-i-think-it_1668802.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d8/oscar-wilde-16_psychology_well-i-must-say-algernon-that-i-think-it_1668802.jpg) > ““Well, I must say, Algernon, that I think it is high time that Mr. Bunbury made up his mind whether he was going to live or to die. This shilly-shallying with the question is absurd. Nor do I in any way approve of the modern sympathy with invalids. I consider it morbid. Illness of any kind is hardly a thing to be encouraged in others. Health is the primary duty of life.”” [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. Wilde satirizes indecision about life and death, mocking sentimental sympathy for the ill and emphasizing health as a moral duty. **In simple terms:** Indecision about living or dying is absurd; health is a duty. Key Takeaway Prioritize health and decisive action. Themes health morality indecision satire Mood wry critical Type satirical philosophical When to use this quote - personal health decisions - medical ethics debates - public health policy - caregiver attitudes Key Concepts existentialism social critique Questions to Reflect On - How do we balance personal health responsibility with empathy for the ill? - Is it moral to judge others' health choices? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on health can neglect compassion for the sick. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“Nor do I in any way approve of the modern sympathy with invalids.  I consider it morbid.  Illness of any kind is hardly a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/nor-do-i-in-any-way-approve-of-the-modern-sympathy-with-invalids-i/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Yes; poor Bunbury is a dreadful invalid. Well, I must say, Algernon, that I think it is high time that Mr. Bunbury made up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/yes-poor-bunbury-is-a-dreadful-invalid-well-i-must-say-algernon-that/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [The modern sympathy with invalids is morbid. Illness of any kind is hardly a thing to be encouraged in others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-modern-sympathy-with-invalids-is-morbid-illness-of-any-kind-is/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Our researchers into Public Opinion are content That he held the proper opinions for the time of year; When there was peace, he was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/our-researchers-into-public-opinion-are-content-that-he-held-the/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [Humanity should question itself, once more, about the absurd and always unfair phenomenon of war...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-john-paul-ii/humanity-should-question-itself-once-more-about-the-absurd-and-always-2/) [Pope John Paul II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-john-paul-ii/) > [“To know what questions may reasonably be asked is already a great and necessary proof of sagacity and insight. 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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. 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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 Psychology quotes > [It appears to me that one great cause of our difference in opinion on subjects which we often discuss is that you have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ricardo/it-appears-to-me-that-one-great-cause-of-our-difference-in-opinion-on/) [David Ricardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ricardo/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Once ye made up yer mind to do somethin', 'tis better t'stumble o'er the small hillock of jump-ahead than t'bash yer head on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/once-ye-made-up-yer-mind-to-do-somethin-tis-better-t-stumble-o-er-the/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [“Not that it matters, when you dream, there's no outside or in. 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