--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I would have liked to have known Oscar…" description: "\"I would have liked to have known Oscar Wilde because I think he must have been very amusing and entertaining.\" — Truman Capote" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e7/truman-capote-376_amusing_i-would-have-liked-to-have-known-oscar-w_3044592.jpg" --- # I would have liked to have known Oscar Wilde because I… ![“I would have liked to have known Oscar Wilde because I think he must have been very amusing and entertaining.” quote by Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e7/truman-capote-376_amusing_i-would-have-liked-to-have-known-oscar-w_3044592.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e7/truman-capote-376_amusing_i-would-have-liked-to-have-known-oscar-w_3044592.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e7/truman-capote-376_amusing_i-would-have-liked-to-have-known-oscar-w_3044592.jpg) > “I would have liked to have known Oscar Wilde because I think he must have been very amusing and entertaining.” [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Wilde’s life would have been entertaining and amusing. **In simple terms:** Wilde was likely very entertaining. Key Takeaway Seek wit in literature. Themes literature entertainment history Mood lighthearted nostalgic Type literary inspirational When to use this quote - reading clubs - theatre performances - historical study - creative writing Key Concepts biography culture Questions to Reflect On - What makes a historical figure entertaining? - How does humor shape legacy? A Different Perspective Wilde’s persona may be mythologized. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Amusing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amusing/) [Oscars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oscars/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Government is not a game show, though at times it is amusing and entertaining to watch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-esler/government-is-not-a-game-show-though-at-times-it-is-amusing-and/) [Gavin Esler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-esler/) > [A refusal of nature as a model is a tradition that goes right back to Oscar Wilde.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-haynes/a-refusal-of-nature-as-a-model-is-a-tradition-that-goes-right-back-to/) [Todd Haynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-haynes/) > [The Chinese general Sun Tzu said that all war was based on deception. Oscar Wilde said the same thing of romance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-tempest/the-chinese-general-sun-tzu-said-that-all-war-was-based-on-deception/) [Marco Tempest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-tempest/) > [“(Oscar) Wilde is surely one of the most erotic writers who ever lived.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanith-lee/oscar-wilde-is-surely-one-of-the-most-erotic-writers-who-ever-lived/) [Tanith Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanith-lee/) > [Oscar Wilde once said that to live is the rarest thing in the world, because most people just exist, and that's all. I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/oscar-wilde-once-said-that-to-live-is-the-rarest-thing-in-the-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think Oscar Wilde wrote a poem about a robin who loved a white rose. He loved it so much that he pierced his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-pickford/i-think-oscar-wilde-wrote-a-poem-about-a-robin-who-loved-a-white-rose/) [Mary Pickford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-pickford/) > [Oscar Wilde said that sunsets were not valued because we could not pay for sunsets. But Oscar Wilde was wrong; we can pay for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/oscar-wilde-said-that-sunsets-were-not-valued-because-we-could-not/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“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/) > [Oscar Wilde said that the gods punish us in two ways: first, they don't give us what we want, then, they do. He forgot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perry-brass/oscar-wilde-said-that-the-gods-punish-us-in-two-ways-first-they-don-t/) [Perry Brass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perry-brass/) > [“A dreamer is one who can only find his way by moonlight, and his punishment is that he sees the dawn before the rest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/a-dreamer-is-one-who-can-only-find-his-way-by-moonlight-and-his/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [If every witty thing that's said was true, Oscar Wilde, the world would worship You!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-r-burch/if-every-witty-thing-that-s-said-was-true-oscar-wilde-the-world-would/) [Michael R. Burch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-r-burch/) > [I'm sure I've been influenced by every fine writer I've ever read, from Dickens and Austen to Auden and Jane Hirshfield. And also, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-bloom/i-m-sure-i-ve-been-influenced-by-every-fine-writer-i-ve-ever-read/) [Amy Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-bloom/) > [Oscar Wilde: 'Do you mind if I smoke?' Sarah Bernhardt: 'I don't care if you burn.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-bernhardt/oscar-wilde-do-you-mind-if-i-smoke-sarah-bernhardt-i-don-t-care-if/) [Sarah Bernhardt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-bernhardt/) > [“The truth is rarely pure and never simple. -Oscar Wilde”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vi-keeland/the-truth-is-rarely-pure-and-never-simple-oscar-wilde/) [Vi Keeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vi-keeland/) > [“Oscar Wilde wrote, “In this world there are only two tragedies. One is getting what one wants, and the other is not getting it.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-perel/oscar-wilde-wrote-in-this-world-there-are-only-two-tragedies-one-is/) [Esther Perel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-perel/) ## More by Truman Capote > [“You can beat your brains out for her, and she’ll hand you horseshit on a platter.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/you-can-beat-your-brains-out-for-her-and-she-ll-hand-you-horseshit-on/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [“The walls of the cell fell away, the sky came down, I saw the big yellow bird.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/the-walls-of-the-cell-fell-away-the-sky-came-down-i-saw-the-big/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [“Don't wanna ride on the devil's side...just wanna ride with you”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/don-t-wanna-ride-on-the-devil-s-side-just-wanna-ride-with-you/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [Wrinkles and bones, white hair and diamonds: I can't wait.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/wrinkles-and-bones-white-hair-and-diamonds-i-can-t-wait/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [You can't blame a writer for what the characters say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/you-can-t-blame-a-writer-for-what-the-characters-say/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [There is really no practical help that one can offer; it is a matter of self-discovery, of one's own convictions, or working with one's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/there-is-really-no-practical-help-that-one-can-offer-it-is-a-matter/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [“...Narcissus was so egotist...he was merely another of us who, in our unshatterable isolation, recognized, on seeing his reflection, the beautiful comrade, the only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/narcissus-was-so-egotist-he-was-merely-another-of-us-who-in-our/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [“Is it - I'm not certain - possible to love someone if your first interest is the use you can make of him? Doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/is-it-i-m-not-certain-possible-to-love-someone-if-your-first-interest/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [One of the most difficult things in writing a novel or anything at all is to choose the point of view from which it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/one-of-the-most-difficult-things-in-writing-a-novel-or-anything-at/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [I've never worked for a newspaper. I've had some very bad reviews in newspapers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/i-ve-never-worked-for-a-newspaper-i-ve-had-some-very-bad-reviews-in/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [But, my dear, so few things are fulfilled: what are most lives but a series of incompleted episodes? 'We work in the dark, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/but-my-dear-so-few-things-are-fulfilled-what-are-most-lives-but-a/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [“…she, glittery voyager of secure destination, steamed down the harbor with whistles whistling and confetti in the air.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/she-glittery-voyager-of-secure-destination-steamed-down-the-harbor/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [“Because it's indeed difficult to portray, in any meaningful depth, another being, his appearance, speech, mentality, without to some degree, and often for quite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/because-it-s-indeed-difficult-to-portray-in-any-meaningful-depth/) [truman capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [“It's a bore, but the answer is good things only happen to you if you're good. Good? Honest is more what I mean. Not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/it-s-a-bore-but-the-answer-is-good-things-only-happen-to-you-if-you/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [“In the courtyard there was an angel of black stone, and its angel head rose above giant elephant leaves; the stark glass angel eyes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/in-the-courtyard-there-was-an-angel-of-black-stone-and-its-angel-head/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) [Explore all 585 Truman Capote quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) ## More Amusing quotes > [“I have found it an amusing strategy, when asked whether I am an atheist, to point out that the questioner is also an atheist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/i-have-found-it-an-amusing-strategy-when-asked-whether-i-am-an/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [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 was reading Neil Postman's 'Amusing Ourselves to Death'. It's one of my favourites.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-faiyaz/i-was-reading-neil-postman-s-amusing-ourselves-to-death-it-s-one-of/) [Brent Faiyaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-faiyaz/) > [People of our time are losing the power of celebration. Instead of celebrating we seek to be amused or entertained. Celebration is an active…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-joshua-heschel/people-of-our-time-are-losing-the-power-of-celebration-instead-of/) [Abraham Joshua Heschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-joshua-heschel/) > [No one survives in times of war unless they make war their home. How did I get so old and wise, but for welcoming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/no-one-survives-in-times-of-war-unless-they-make-war-their-home-how/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [Funny things tend not to happen to me. I am not a natural comic. I need to think about things a lot before I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rowan-atkinson/funny-things-tend-not-to-happen-to-me-i-am-not-a-natural-comic-i-need/) [Rowan Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rowan-atkinson/) > [ \[A\]n Obama presidency would be an amusing approximation of the Carter administration, complete with vaporous moralizing and foreign policy bungling. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmett-tyrrell/a-n-obama-presidency-would-be-an-amusing-approximation-of-the-carter/) [Emmett Tyrrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmett-tyrrell/) > [It's amusing how arrogant people can be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-amusing-how-arrogant-people-can-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Men are not amusing during the shooting season; but, after all, my dear, men were not especially designed to amuse women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-atherton/men-are-not-amusing-during-the-shooting-season-but-after-all-my-dear/) [Gertrude Atherton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-atherton/) > [All men are fools, if truth be told, but the ones in motley are more amusing than ones with crowns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/all-men-are-fools-if-truth-be-told-but-the-ones-in-motley-are-more/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Most poetry is the utterance of a man in some state of passion, love, joy, grief, rage, etc., and no doubt this is as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/most-poetry-is-the-utterance-of-a-man-in-some-state-of-passion-love/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [It's always amusing to see how much less the political class knows than the rest of us do. ... it's never occurred to \[the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-d-cox/it-s-always-amusing-to-see-how-much-less-the-political-class-knows/) Stephen D. Cox > [Are there bears in these mountains?" he asked. His companion nodded. "Of course. But it's a bit early in the year for them to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/are-there-bears-in-these-mountains-he-asked-his-companion-nodded-of/) [John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/) > [I always find it amusing to overhear women who have never had babies discussing what a pregnant chick should 'look' like at a certain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catt-sadler/i-always-find-it-amusing-to-overhear-women-who-have-never-had-babies/) [Catt Sadler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catt-sadler/) > [The generation of random numbers is too important to be left to chance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-coveyou/the-generation-of-random-numbers-is-too-important-to-be-left-to-chance/) Robert Coveyou [Browse all 436 Amusing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amusing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I would have liked to have known Oscar Wilde because I think he must have been very amusing and entertaining.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Truman Capote" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/i-would-have-liked-to-have-known-oscar-wilde-because-i-think-he-must/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Amusing" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/i-would-have-liked-to-have-known-oscar-wilde-because-i-think-he-must/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e7/truman-capote-376_amusing_i-would-have-liked-to-have-known-oscar-w_3044592.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e7/truman-capote-376_amusing_i-would-have-liked-to-have-known-oscar-w_3044592.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e7/truman-capote-376_amusing_i-would-have-liked-to-have-known-oscar-w_3044592.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I would have liked to have known Oscar Wilde because I think he must have been very amusing and entertaining.” — Truman Capote", "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": "Truman Capote", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I would have liked to have...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/i-would-have-liked-to-have-known-oscar-wilde-because-i-think-he-must/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/i-would-have-liked-to-have-known-oscar-wilde-because-i-think-he-must/#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 } } ] } ```