“Young people, nowadays, imagine that money is everything.”
>
“Yes, and when they grow older they know it.”. Source
This sharp, cynical exchange feels instantly familiar. Many attribute it directly to the wit of Oscar Wilde. While he did write the words, the story behind them is more complex than a simple personal declaration. The quote’s journey from a novel’s dialogue to a famous misattribution reveals how ideas evolve in popular culture. It also offers a deeper look into Wilde’s true, nuanced perspective on wealth and poverty.
This famous quote is not a standalone epigram from Wilde himself. Instead, it originates from his 1891 Gothic masterpiece, The Picture of Dorian Gray. The lines are part of a conversation between two aristocratic characters. Lord Fermor, a cynical old nobleman, first offers the observation about young people and money. His nephew, the equally witty and dandyish Lord Henry Wotton, delivers the cutting reply. Wilde masterfully uses this dialogue to build character and comment on the values of his society.
Therefore, attributing the quote to Oscar Wilde – Victorian Web personally is a crucial misstep. He penned the dialogue for his characters to speak. The sentiment certainly aligns with the cynical tone found throughout his work. However, the words belong to the fictional world of Dorian Gray, not directly to the author’s personal philosophy.
The Making of a Famous Misquote
So how did a piece of dialogue transform into a personal reflection? Over time, the exchange morphed into a more concise, first-person statement: “When I was young I used to think that money was the most important thing in life. Now that I am old, I know it.” This version is almost more famous than the original. It captures the same cynical spirit but frames it as Wilde’s own life lesson.
This transformation likely occurred through imperfect memory and oral tradition. Researchers trace the earliest known appearance of this misattributed version to a 1945 essay. Louis T. Stanley included it in his piece “The Ruination of Golf” published in The Field magazine . This publication occurred 45 years after Wilde’s death, highlighting the long period during which the quote could have evolved. Source
Cementing the Myth
Once in print, the misquote quickly gained legitimacy. In 1947, The New York Times featured the saying in a collection of notable quotes. Two years later, it appeared in Evan Esar’s The Dictionary of Humorous Quotations under Oscar Wilde’s section. These respected publications helped cement the misattribution in the public consciousness. Consequently, generations of readers have accepted the personal reflection as Wilde’s authentic words, unaware of its origins in his novel.
. Oscar Wilde – The Victorian Web
Wilde’s True Thoughts on Money
Ironically, the simplistic cynicism of the misquote overshadows Wilde’s more profound and complex views on economics. His authentic writings reveal a sophisticated understanding of how wealth and poverty shape human thought. For example, in his 1891 essay “The Soul of Man Under Socialism,” Wilde offered a powerful observation. He wrote, “There is only one class in the community that thinks more about money than the rich, and that is the poor. The poor can think of nothing else. That is the misery of being poor.”
This genuine statement provides much deeper insight. It demonstrates Wilde’s empathy and his grasp of systemic economic pressures. Furthermore, his novel The Picture of Dorian Gray presents multiple perspectives on wealth. The actress Sibyl Vane offers a starkly different view from Lord Henry. She declares to her mother, “Money, mother? What does money matter? Love is more than money.” This line represents an idealistic counterpoint, suggesting Wilde used his characters to explore various philosophies rather than just one.
In summary, the journey of this famous quote is a fascinating case study. It shows how a clever line of dialogue can detach from its source. It then takes on a life of its own through cultural repetition. While the misattributed version is undeniably witty, Wilde’s actual words reveal a far more intricate and thoughtful mind. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde – Project Gutenberg