The Hindu Business Line : Wild(e) wit!

Oscar Wilde has been named Britain’s greatest wit in a poll commissioned by digital TV channel ‘Dave’. Interestingly, the poll result has come on the eve of Wilde’s 153rd birth anniversary, which falls today.

Oscar Fingal O’Flahertie Wills Wilde (October 16, 1854 – November 30, 1900) was an Irish playwright, novelist, poet, and author of short stories. Wilde gained 20 per cent of votes, just two points ahead of Irish comedian Spike Milligan.

As the sound of his names suggests, Wilde was truly untamed, stormy, outrageous, riotous, unruly, tempestuous, crazy, eccentric, rowdy, fierce and what have you for being wild. Never tired of taunting America and Americans, Wilde once quipped at an US airport: “I’ve nothing to declare but my genius.”

Baiting America

Among his other America baits are: America had often been discovered before Columbus, but it had always been hushed up. America is the only country that went from barbarism to decadence without civilisation in between. We have really everything in common with America nowadays except, of course, language.

In the top ten of famous wits, Britain’s wartime Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill made it to number five for his notorious putdowns. Accused by a female MP of being drunk, he had replied: “Madam, you are ugly. But in the morning, I will be sober.”

Wildeism

It is indeed time for all Wilde fans to raise a toast to the greatest and funniest wit. And what better way than to savour some of his celebrated quotes?

- A little sincerity is a dangerous thing, and a great deal of it is absolutely fatal.

- It is always a silly thing to give advice, but to give good advice is fatal.

- Whenever people agree with me I always feel I must be wrong.

- What is a cynic? A man who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.

- The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it.

- One can survive everything, nowadays, except death, and live down everything except a good reputation.

It is said that Wilde even managed to mutter on his deathbed: “Either those curtains go, or I do.”

How would Wilde have reacted to his being voted as Britain’s greatest wit? Perhaps the clue lies in recalling his yet another side splitter: “There are two tragedies in life – one is not getting what you want and the other is getting it!”

(The author, a former deputy editor with PTI, is a New Delhi-based freelance journalist. Feedback can be sent to rajamanirc@gmail.com or rajamani_rc@yahoo.co.uk)