“Life is not complex. We are complex. Life is simple and the simple thing is the right thing.” – Oscar Wilde
While I consider myself a fan of Oscar Wilde’s inspiring writings, I’m not sure I fully agree with his quote above.
“Life is simple and the simple thing is the right thing.”
In a perfect world maybe.
But we don’t life in a perfect world. We live in a world where people are incredibly complex, making what appears to be a simple resolution impossible to carry out.
In short, logic is often superseded by one’s own pride, ego and perception of themselves, not to mention what they consider to be right and wrong. Trying to tell such individuals what’s the “right thing” often leads down a path of personal ridicule, persecution and destruction.
And while those words might seem harsh, we don’t have to look very far in our own country’s history to find countless examples of what I’m saying.
I wish life were not complex. I wish people did what was right for society as a whole, rather than what best serves them as they continue to progress through life.
I have to believe that the complex will one-day give way to the simplistic. That right will finally triumph over wrong and that people will lose the need to be self-serving and instead become more selfless.
But life IS complex Mr. Wilde. Yes, it’s caused by the very people who inhabit our planet, but it’s complex nonetheless. The simple thing might very well be the right thing, but it’s never that simple in reality.
Hi Craig,
thank you for the great posts, I always smile when they arrive in my inbox. I really enjoy reading them.
Life is indeed complex not to mention the people we meet along the way, wouldn’t it be lovely if everyone was considerate of each other and did the right thing!
Take care, Gail.