Oscar Wilde Quote - Liberty Quotes Blog

"To believe is very dull.
To doubt is intensely engrossing.
To be on the alert is to live,
to be lulled into security is to die."

by:	Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) Anglo-Irish poet, novelist, writer
Source:	Oscariana, 1911
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Categories:	Courage, Experimentation, Faith, Fear, Responsibility, Security, Terrorism, Skepticism, Death
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Reader comments about this quote:

Come hither all ye believers and make me yawn. -- anonymous
The first 2 lines are far less accurate than accurate. The last 2 lines are more accurate than not. To believe in life and truth is extremely exhilarating and/or animating. To doubt is only an easy follow-up to knowing or believing something else. Doubt can engross the non-seeker of life, truth and he who is not alert. -- Mike, Norwalk
-- Walter, Boston, MA
To believe is very dull, lest you sharpen your wit ! To doubt is intensely engrossing, making dull the wit ! To be on the alert is to live, and guard your Liberty through belief. To be lulled into security is to die, for the lack of an alert wit. -- Ron w13, Or