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About this quote

What does it mean?
Life is too important to be taken seriously.
In plain terms
Treat life's seriousness with levity.
What can you take from it?
Use humor to cope with life's weight.

Where it applies

  • stress relief
  • creative writing

Putting it to work

  • injecting wit into daily routine
  • laughing at setbacks

Questions to consider

  • When does humor become avoidance?
  • How can seriousness and humor coexist?

Another view

Over‑lightness may ignore genuine suffering.

More from Oscar Wilde

  1. Life is far too important a thing ever to talk seriously about it.

    Permalink to quote #108

  2. I am the only person in the world I should like to know thoroughly.

    Permalink to quote #110

  3. I can resist everything . . . except child pornography. Sweet, sweet child pornography.

    Permalink to quote #107

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