Quote by Oscar Wilde
Experience was of no ethical value. It was merely the name men gave to their mistakes. Moralists had, as a rule, regarded it as a mode of warning, had claimed for it a certain ethical efficacy in the formation of character, had praised it as something that taught us what to follow and showed us what to avoid. But there was no motive power in experience. It was as little of an active cause as conscience itself. All that it really demonstrated was that our future would be the same as our past, and that the sin we had done once, and with loathing, we would do many times, and with joy.
Summary
This quote suggests that experience is not inherently valuable in terms of ethics. The author argues that it is merely a label attributed to one's mistakes. While moralists typically view experience as a means of guidance, teaching what to pursue and avoid, the quote asserts that experience holds no power or influence. It claims that experience simply reveals the repetitive nature of human behavior and the tendency to repeat past sins, even with enjoyment, despite initial remorse. In essence, the quote challenges the idea that experience has any significant ethical impact.
By Oscar Wilde
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