--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Who is that man over there? I don't know…" description: "\"Who is that man over there? I don't know him. What is he doing? Is he a conspirator? Have you searched him? Give him till tomorrow to confess, then han..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/176/oscar-wilde-16_confession_who-is-that-man-over-there-i-don-t-know_1145133.jpg" --- # Who is that man over there? I don't know him. What is he… ![“Who is that man over there? I don't know him. What is he doing? Is he a conspirator? Have you searched him? Give him till tomorrow to confess, then hang him! -- hang him!” quote by Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/176/oscar-wilde-16_confession_who-is-that-man-over-there-i-don-t-know_1145133.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/176/oscar-wilde-16_confession_who-is-that-man-over-there-i-don-t-know_1145133.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/176/oscar-wilde-16_confession_who-is-that-man-over-there-i-don-t-know_1145133.jpg) > “Who is that man over there? I don't know him. What is he doing? Is he a conspirator? Have you searched him? Give him till tomorrow to confess, then hang him! -- hang him!” [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. A frantic, irrational pursuit of a suspect leads to extreme measures. **In simple terms:** Obsessive suspicion can become violent. Key Takeaway Question motives before acting. Themes paranoia justice violence Mood critical satirical Type dramatic political When to use this quote - legal investigation - political witch hunts - media sensationalism Key Concepts moral panic extremism Questions to Reflect On - What drives people to demand immediate confession? - How can societies prevent mob mentality? A Different Perspective May exaggerate for dramatic effect, not realistic. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Confession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confession/) [Conspiracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conspiracy/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Tomorrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tomorrow/) ## Related quotes > [Im a former, living, breathing, right-wing conspirator.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brock/im-a-former-living-breathing-right-wing-conspirator/) [David Brock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brock/) > [I have been a conspirator for so long that I mistrust all around me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gamal-abdel-nasser/i-have-been-a-conspirator-for-so-long-that-i-mistrust-all-around-me/) [Gamal Abdel Nasser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gamal-abdel-nasser/) > [I'm a former, living, breathing, right-wing conspirator.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brock/i-m-a-former-living-breathing-right-wing-conspirator/) [David Brock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brock/) > [“Domination and critique have always formed an apparatus covertly against a common hostis: the conspirator, who works under cover, who used everything THEY give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiqqun/domination-and-critique-have-always-formed-an-apparatus-covertly/) Tiqqun > [“I’m sure the ‘I wouldn’t fuck a murder conspirator’ argument wins over many an internal affairs review board. Bring him in. It’ll be in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-r-smith/i-m-sure-the-i-wouldn-t-fuck-a-murder-conspirator-argument-wins-over/) [Benjamin R. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-r-smith/) > [The conspiracy theory of the Jew as the hypnotic conspirator, the duplicitous manipulator, the sinister puppeteer is one with ancient roots and a bloody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bari-weiss/the-conspiracy-theory-of-the-jew-as-the-hypnotic-conspirator-the/) [Bari Weiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bari-weiss/) > [“The ego is the ultimate conspirator.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bert-mccoy/the-ego-is-the-ultimate-conspirator/) [Bert McCoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bert-mccoy/) > [“Yes Harry I believe that is true. I cannot help telling you things. You have a curious influence over me. If I ever did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/yes-harry-i-believe-that-is-true-i-cannot-help-telling-you-things-you/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [The best aunts aren't substitute parents, they're co-conspirators.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daryl-gregory/the-best-aunts-aren-t-substitute-parents-they-re-co-conspirators/) [Daryl Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daryl-gregory/) > [“Conspiracy theories tend to depend on conspirators who are unduly evil with genocide or world domination as a motive,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-auliq-ice/conspiracy-theories-tend-to-depend-on-conspirators-who-are-unduly/) [Oscar Auliq-Ice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-auliq-ice/) > [In fact, I point out that all the conspiracies in history - especially during the last 5000 years - are actually different aspects of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eustace-mullins/in-fact-i-point-out-that-all-the-conspiracies-in-history-especially/) [Eustace Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eustace-mullins/) > [If we are on the outside, we assume a conspiracy is the perfect working of a scheme. Silent nameless men with unadorned hearts. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/if-we-are-on-the-outside-we-assume-a-conspiracy-is-the-perfect/) [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) > [“They were all whispers now, the two of them, conspirators and thieves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/they-were-all-whispers-now-the-two-of-them-conspirators-and-thieves/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [The plea of necessity, that eternal argument of all conspirators.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-henry-harrison/the-plea-of-necessity-that-eternal-argument-of-all-conspirators/) [William Henry Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-henry-harrison/) > [But we've all ended up giving body and soul to Africa, one way or another. Even Adah, who's becoming an expert in tropical epidemiology…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/but-we-ve-all-ended-up-giving-body-and-soul-to-africa-one-way-or/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) ## 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 Confess quotes > [What better can we do than prostrate fall before Him reverent, and there confess humbly our faults, and pardon beg with tears watering the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/what-better-can-we-do-than-prostrate-fall-before-him-reverent-and/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [On a related subject, Signore Pazzi, I must confess to you: I'm giving serious thought to eating your wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-harris/on-a-related-subject-signore-pazzi-i-must-confess-to-you-i-m-giving/) [Thomas Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-harris/) > [“I wanted to come clean many times. I wanted to admit my jealousy, to confess my sarcasm and endless anger, to put all my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/invisible-sam/i-wanted-to-come-clean-many-times-i-wanted-to-admit-my-jealousy-to/) Invisible Sam > [“Lord, we confess our numerous faults, How great our guilt has been! Foolish and vain were all our thoughts, And all our lives were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-watts/lord-we-confess-our-numerous-faults-how-great-our-guilt-has-been/) [Isaac Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-watts/) > [I want to confess as best I can, but my heart is void. The void is a mirror. I see my face and feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingmar-bergman/i-want-to-confess-as-best-i-can-but-my-heart-is-void-the-void-is-a/) [Ingmar Bergman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingmar-bergman/) > [Tell me, if I confess my feelings to you, will you say you feel the same? Or am I going to have to cringe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernajoy-vaal/tell-me-if-i-confess-my-feelings-to-you-will-you-say-you-feel-the/) [Bernajoy Vaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernajoy-vaal/) > [I confess freely to you, I could never look long upon a monkey, without very mortifying reflections.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-congreve/i-confess-freely-to-you-i-could-never-look-long-upon-a-monkey-without/) [William Congreve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-congreve/) > [“We rarely confide in those who are better than we. Most often, on the other hand, we confess to those who are like us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/we-rarely-confide-in-those-who-are-better-than-we-most-often-on-the/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [You dont go to hell for being gay unless you confess your sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-dont-go-to-hell-for-being-gay-unless-you-confess-your-sin/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Why will no man confess his faults? Because he continues to indulge in them; a man cannot tell his dream till he wakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/why-will-no-man-confess-his-faults-because-he-continues-to-indulge-in/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [“You got what you deserved. Now be a man and confess to what most of us already know.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-buck/you-got-what-you-deserved-now-be-a-man-and-confess-to-what-most-of-us/) [Stacy Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacy-buck/) > [Oh yes. You’ve caught me. I confess. My sole purpose in life is to gleefully, willfully, maniacally destroy all of your precious chrome babies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-estep/oh-yes-you-ve-caught-me-i-confess-my-sole-purpose-in-life-is-to/) [Jennifer Estep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-estep/) > [“Confess your sins, worship God, and get on with your life. You can experience the mercy of God no matter what you’ve been through.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-s-mcgee/confess-your-sins-worship-god-and-get-on-with-your-life-you-can/) [Robert S. McGee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-s-mcgee/) > [“My name is John Creedmoor, and I would like to confess my crimes. Hope you all weren't going anywhere this week...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-gilman/my-name-is-john-creedmoor-and-i-would-like-to-confess-my-crimes-hope/) Felix Gilman > [“The truth is, not one of is innocent. We all have sins to confess.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-w-gortner/the-truth-is-not-one-of-is-innocent-we-all-have-sins-to-confess/) [C.W. Gortner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-w-gortner/) Browse all 412 Confess quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Who is that man over there? I don't know him. What is he doing? Is he a conspirator? Have you searched him? 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