Quote by Oscar Wilde

SIR ROBERT CHILTERN: But may I ask, at heart, are you an optimist or a pessimist? Those seem to be the only two fashionable religions left to us nowadays.MRS CHEVELEY: Oh, I'm neither. Optimism begins in a broad grin, and Pessimism ends with blue spectacles. Besides, they are both of them merely poses.SIR ROBERT CHILTERN: You prefer to be natural?MRS CHEVELEY: Sometimes. But it is such a very difficult pose to keep up.(Act I., lines 132-140)

SIR ROBERT CHILTERN: But may I ask, at heart, are you an op

Summary

In this quote from Oscar Wilde's play "An Ideal Husband," Sir Robert Chiltern suggests that optimism and pessimism are the only two prevailing attitudes in society. Mrs Cheveley dismisses these as superficial and insincere, calling them mere poses. She asserts that being natural is preferred, although she admits that maintaining this authenticity is a challenging endeavor. This quote highlights the characters' skepticism towards commonly held beliefs and the complexities of maintaining an authentic persona in society.

Topics

Pessimism Optimism Poses

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