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About this quote

What does it mean?
Shallowness is the greatest moral failing.
In plain terms
Being shallow is the worst vice.
What can you take from it?
Depth of thought and feeling is essential.

Where it applies

  • personal development
  • educational settings

Putting it to work

  • cultivate depth
  • avoid superficial judgments

Questions to consider

  • What makes shallowness a supreme vice?
  • Can depth be measured?

Another view

Some may argue other vices are more harmful.

More from Oscar Wilde

  1. It seems to me that we all look at Nature too much, and live with her too little.

    Permalink to quote #218

  2. We are specially designed to appeal to the sense of humour.

    Permalink to quote #220

  3. A thing is, according to the mode in which one looks at it.

    Permalink to quote #217

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