Who said “Of course the music is a great difficulty. You see, if one plays good music, people…”?

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Oscar Wilde. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceThe Importance of Being Earnest (1895), Algernon, Act I

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“Of course the music is a great difficulty. You see, if one plays good music, people don't listen, and if one plays bad music people don't talk.”
— Oscar Wilde
VerifiedThe Importance of Being Earnest (1895), Algernon, Act I · evidenceMusic
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For academic work, cite the original where you can: The Importance of Being Earnest (1895), Algernon, Act I.

APA

Wilde, O. (n.d.). Of course the music is a great difficulty. You see, if one plays good music, people don't listen, and if one plays bad music people don't talk. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/23652-of-course-the-music-is-a-great-difficulty/

MLA

Wilde, Oscar. “Of course the music is a great difficulty. You see, if one plays good music, people don't listen, and if one plays bad music people don't talk.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/23652-of-course-the-music-is-a-great-difficulty/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Wilde, Oscar. “Of course the music is a great difficulty. You see, if one plays good music, people don't listen, and if one plays bad music people don't talk.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/23652-of-course-the-music-is-a-great-difficulty/.

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