--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Well, one must be serious about…" description: "\"Well, one must be serious about something, if one wants to have any amusement in life.\" — Oscar Wilde" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b36/oscar-wilde-16_amusement_well-one-must-be-serious-about-something_1336729.jpg" --- # Well, one must be serious about something, if one wants to… ![“Well, one must be serious about something, if one wants to have any amusement in life.” quote by Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b36/oscar-wilde-16_amusement_well-one-must-be-serious-about-something_1336729.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b36/oscar-wilde-16_amusement_well-one-must-be-serious-about-something_1336729.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b36/oscar-wilde-16_amusement_well-one-must-be-serious-about-something_1336729.jpg) > “Well, one must be serious about something, if one wants to have any amusement in 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. Serious commitment to a cause creates space for genuine enjoyment. **In simple terms:** Take things seriously to enjoy life. Key Takeaway Balance seriousness with fun. Themes purpose humor balance Mood witty reflective Type dramatic philosophical When to use this quote - career ambition - artistic creation - political activism - personal hobbies Key Concepts existentialism social critique Questions to Reflect On - What do you take seriously? - How does seriousness enable amusement? A Different Perspective Too much seriousness can stifle joy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Amusement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amusement/) [Importance of being earnest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/importance-of-being-earnest/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) ## Related quotes > [“One must be serious about something, if one wants to have any amusement in life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cooper-oscar-wilde/one-must-be-serious-about-something-if-one-wants-to-have-any/) John Cooper Oscar Wilde > [It is awfully hard work doing nothing. However, I don't mind hard work when there is no definite object of any kind. To do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/it-is-awfully-hard-work-doing-nothing-however-i-don-t-mind-hard-work/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [What between the duties expected of one during one's lifetime, and the duties exacted from one after one's death, land has ceased to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/what-between-the-duties-expected-of-one-during-one-s-lifetime-and-the/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [I've now realised for the first time in my life the vital Importance of Being Earnest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/i-ve-now-realised-for-the-first-time-in-my-life-the-vital-importance/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [An engagement should come on a young girl as a surprise, pleasant or unpleasant as the case may be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/an-engagement-should-come-on-a-young-girl-as-a-surprise-pleasant-or/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [I do not approve of anything that tampers with natural ignorance. Ignorance is like a delicate exotic fruit; touch it and the bloom is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/i-do-not-approve-of-anything-that-tampers-with-natural-ignorance/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Speak frankly, I am not in favour of long engagements. They give people the opportunity of finding out each other’s character before marriage, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/speak-frankly-i-am-not-in-favour-of-long-engagements-they-give-people/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [When people talk to me about the weather, I always feel they mean something else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/when-people-talk-to-me-about-the-weather-i-always-feel-they-mean/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [In England ... education produces no effect whatsoever. If it did, it would prove a serious danger to the upper classes, and would probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/in-england-education-produces-no-effect-whatsoever-if-it-did-it-would/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Really, if the lower orders don't set a good example, what on earth is the use of them?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/really-if-the-lower-orders-don-t-set-a-good-example-what-on-earth-is/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [More than half of modern culture depends upon what one shouldn't read.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/more-than-half-of-modern-culture-depends-upon-what-one-shouldn-t-read/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [What matters in the end in literature, what is always there, is the truly good. And- though played out forms can throw up miraculous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/v-s-naipaul/what-matters-in-the-end-in-literature-what-is-always-there-is-the-2/) [V. S. Naipaul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/v-s-naipaul/) > [The first professional play I ever saw was The Importance Of Being Earnest, and I just fell in love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-cattrall/the-first-professional-play-i-ever-saw-was-the-importance-of-being/) [Kim Cattrall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-cattrall/) > [And certainly once a man begins to neglect his domestic duties he becomes painfully effeminate, does he not? And I don't like that. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/and-certainly-once-a-man-begins-to-neglect-his-domestic-duties-he/) [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/) ## 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 Amusement quotes > [Cultivate the habit of thinking ahead, and of anticipating the necessary and immediate consequences of all your actions… Likewise in your pleasures, ask yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/cultivate-the-habit-of-thinking-ahead-and-of-anticipating-the/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [Ancient eyes had stared at me, filled with ancient grief. And something more. Something so alien and unexpected that I'd almost burst into tears.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/ancient-eyes-had-stared-at-me-filled-with-ancient-grief-and-something/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [Every producer in Hollywood had set me down as a type. I was both amused and disappointed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bela-lugosi/every-producer-in-hollywood-had-set-me-down-as-a-type-i-was-both/) [Bela Lugosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bela-lugosi/) > [By amusing myself with all these games, all this nonsense, all these picture puzzles, I became famous... I am only a public entertainer who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/by-amusing-myself-with-all-these-games-all-this-nonsense-all-these/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [I just started writing for my own amusement and occasionally singing in little clubs around Los Angeles. Then I wrote 'The Rose,' and through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-mcbroom/i-just-started-writing-for-my-own-amusement-and-occasionally-singing/) [Amanda McBroom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-mcbroom/) > [Happiness does not consist in pastimes and amusements but in virtuous activities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/happiness-does-not-consist-in-pastimes-and-amusements-but-in-virtuous/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation. What is called resignation is confirmed desperation. From the desperate city you go into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-mass-of-men-lead-lives-of-quiet-desperation-what-is-called/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Ordinary people simply don't know what books mean to us, shut up here. Reading, learning, and the radio are our amusements.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-frank/ordinary-people-simply-don-t-know-what-books-mean-to-us-shut-up-here/) [Anne Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-frank/) > [My first job was at an amusement park in Virginia. It was the worst. I loved the park but once I'd worked there all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-mcbride/my-first-job-was-at-an-amusement-park-in-virginia-it-was-the-worst-i/) [Danny McBride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-mcbride/) > [The Stoics say, "Retire within yourselves; it is there you will find your rest." And that is not true. Others say, "Go out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/the-stoics-say-retire-within-yourselves-it-is-there-you-will-find/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [I realized, "Gee, you're making the same film over and over here." I just kept making them for my own amusement, but also with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-jarmusch/i-realized-gee-you-re-making-the-same-film-over-and-over-here-i-just/) [Jim Jarmusch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-jarmusch/) > [I like these boots," I told Vayl. "Do you think they'd sell them to me cheap? I keep ruining mine." "Since when do you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-rardin/i-like-these-boots-i-told-vayl-do-you-think-they-d-sell-them-to-me/) [Jennifer Rardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-rardin/) > [It has to be now,” he insisted, a flick of amusement in his voice. He nudged his burgeoning loins against her. “After all, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/it-has-to-be-now-he-insisted-a-flick-of-amusement-in-his-voice-he/) [Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/) > [Act as if the universe is a prodigious miracle created for your amusement and illumination. Assume that secret helpers are working behind the scenes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-brezsny/act-as-if-the-universe-is-a-prodigious-miracle-created-for-your/) [Rob Brezsny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-brezsny/) > [Amusement that is excessive and followed only for its own sake, allures and deceives us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/amusement-that-is-excessive-and-followed-only-for-its-own-sake/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) [Browse all 567 Amusement quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amusement/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Well, one must be serious about something, if one wants to have any amusement in life.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Oscar Wilde" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/well-one-must-be-serious-about-something-if-one-wants-to-have-any/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Amusement" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/well-one-must-be-serious-about-something-if-one-wants-to-have-any/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b36/oscar-wilde-16_amusement_well-one-must-be-serious-about-something_1336729.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b36/oscar-wilde-16_amusement_well-one-must-be-serious-about-something_1336729.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b36/oscar-wilde-16_amusement_well-one-must-be-serious-about-something_1336729.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Well, one must be serious about something, if one wants to have any amusement in life.” — 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": "Well, one must be serious about...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/well-one-must-be-serious-about-something-if-one-wants-to-have-any/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/well-one-must-be-serious-about-something-if-one-wants-to-have-any/#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 } } ] } ```