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Woman begins by resisting a man's advances and ends by blocking his retreat.
Oscar Wilde
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Interpretation

What this quote means

This quote humorously illustrates the complexities of romantic interactions between men and women.

Oscar Wilde's quote captures the paradoxical nature of attraction and courtship, where initial resistance turns into a form of control or possession. It suggests that in romantic pursuits, women may start by rejecting advances, yet as relationships evolve, they may take on roles that restrict choice or freedom, highlighting the often ironic dynamics in relationships.

Themes

RelationshipsRomanceAttractionIronyControl

In practice

Example use cases

A discussion on the complexities of dating during a relationship workshop.

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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