Careless Quotes
To lose one parent, may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both looks like carelessness.
"To lose one parent, may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both looks like carelessness."— Oscar Wilde
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Meaning of this quote
Lady Bracknell applies social judgment to a family tragedy with absurd coldness. The joke exposes her priorities and the play’s comic treatment of respectability.
Key takeaway:
Recognize the satire behind an apparently polished judgment.
Origin of the quote
The Importance of Being Earnest (1895), Act I, Lady Bracknell.
Who actually said this?
VerifiedThe original includes an address to Mr Worthing. The post removes it and changes punctuation while retaining the two-part joke.
