"If you pretend to be good, the world takes you very seriously. If you pretend to be bad, it doesn't. Such is the astounding stupidity of optimism"

This quote by Oscar Wilde speaks to the power of perception and how it can form our truth. Wilde recommends that if we provide ourselves as great individuals, the world will take us seriously and treat us as such. Nevertheless, if we present ourselves as bad people, the world will not take us seriously. This is because of the "impressive stupidity of optimism" which is the idea that people are inherently excellent and will constantly select to think the very best in others. This quote speaks to the power of understanding and how it can shape our reality. It likewise works as a pointer to be conscious of how we present ourselves to the world, as it can have a considerable influence on how we are viewed and dealt with.