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I am jealous of everything whose beauty does not die.
Oscar Wilde
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote expresses a longing for the permanence of beauty, contrasting it with the fleeting nature of life.

In this quote, Oscar Wilde reflects on the ephemeral nature of beauty and life, expressing a sense of envy towards things that possess an everlasting allure. It illustrates the human desire for enduring beauty and hints at the transience of our own experiences and possessions, suggesting that the awareness of mortality makes us appreciate beauty even more deeply.

Themes

BeautyEnvyTransienceLifeMortality

In practice

Example use cases

This quote can be used in a discussion about the nature of art and its lasting impact.

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Everything is dangerous, my dear fellow. If it wasn't so, life wouldn't be worth living.
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A truth ceases to be true when more than one person believes in it.
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