On [George Bernard Shaw] An excellent man: he has no enemies, and none of his friends like him.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Wilde describes Shaw as a man without enemies, yet whose friends dislike him.
- In plain terms
- Shaw has no enemies, but his friends don't like him.
- What can you take from it?
- Being neutral can still alienate close ones.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Is it possible to please everyone?
- What cost comes with being non‑confrontational?
Another view
Having enemies can also be a sign of conviction.
More from Oscar Wilde
The mystery of love is greater than the mystery of death.
Permalink to quote #21 I summed up all systems in a phrase, and all existence in an epigram.
Permalink to quote #23 le mystere de l'amour est plus grand que le mystere de la mort.
Permalink to quote #20
Related quotes
Le combat cessa faute de combattants.
Pierre CorneillePierre Corneille quote #18 I have known Andy for many years... he made a bad slip the other day, but you need not be scared. Andy ain't a drunkard.
Andrew JohnsonAndrew Johnson quote #31 It was OK, us being Reds during the war, because we were all on the same side. But then the Cold War started. Almost overnight we became enemies of people who …
Doris LessingDoris Lessing quote #45