This quote is a sardonic critique of the poet Alexander Pope by Oscar Wilde. The first part of the quote, “There are two ways of disliking poetry, one way is to dislike it,” suggests that one can simply not enjoy poetry because it doesn’t appeal to them. This is a straightforward, personal preference.
The second part, “the other is to read Pope,” is a more nuanced critique. Wilde suggests that reading Pope’s poetry can make one dislike poetry in general. This is not because Pope’s poetry is necessarily bad, but because it’s so different from what Wilde considered true poetry. Pope was known for his polished, precise, and somewhat formulaic verse, while Wilde championed a more free, expressive, and innovative approach to poetry. Thus, Wilde’s comment is a critique of Pope’s style as much as it is a statement about personal taste in art.
Applying this idea to today’s world, it suggests that our experiences with certain types of art, literature, or even broader fields like science or politics, can shape our attitudes towards them as a whole. If we’re exposed to a style or approach we don’t like, we might be turned off entirely. This is a reminder to keep an open mind and not let one bad experience ruin our perception of an entire field.
In terms of personal development, this quote could be interpreted as a call to explore and understand our dislikes, not just our likes. If we dislike something, it might be because we’ve only been exposed to one facet of it, or because we’ve had a bad experience. By delving deeper, we might find that there’s more to enjoy than we initially thought. Alternatively, we might find that our dislikes help us better understand and define our tastes and preferences. Either way, engaging critically with our dislikes, rather than simply accepting them, can lead to personal growth.
