The absence of old friends one can endure with equanimity. But even a momentary separation from anyone to whom one has just been introduced is almost unbearable.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Wilde says losing old friends can be endured calmly, but a brief separation from a new acquaintance feels almost unbearable.
- In plain terms
- Old friends are easier to miss than new ones.
- What can you take from it?
- Value new connections while they’re fresh.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Why do new friendships feel more urgent?
- Can old friendships become more vital over time?
Another view
Individual reactions vary widely.
More from Oscar Wilde
The good ended happily, and the bad unhappily. That is what Fiction means.
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