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Life is not governed by will or intention. Life is a question of nerves, and fibres, and slowly built-up cells in which thought hides itself and passion has its dreams.
Oscar Wilde
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Life is driven by physical and emotional elements rather than just our desires or intentions.

Oscar Wilde's quote emphasizes that life is shaped by our biological makeup and emotional experiences rather than solely by our conscious decisions. He suggests that the complexities of human existence stem from a blend of physical attributes and deeper emotional drives, with our thoughts and passions intertwined in a rich tapestry that defines who we are.

Themes

LifeThoughtPassionEmotionBiology

In practice

Example use cases

This quote can be shared during a philosophy discussion to highlight the complexities of human existence.

More from Oscar Wilde

Everything is dangerous, my dear fellow. If it wasn't so, life wouldn't be worth living.
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When one has never heard a man's name in the course of one's life, it speaks volumes for him; he must be quite respectable.
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Men always want to be a woman's first love - women like to be a man's last romance.
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A truth ceases to be true when more than one person believes in it.
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His morality is all sympathy, just what morality should be
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