"The only thing to do with good advice is to pass it on. It is never of any use to oneself"

Oscar Wilde’s characteristically witty observation about advice reveals a rich paradox about human nature and the value of wisdom. Advice, in itself, is often abundant, frequently solicited, and yet, curiously, seldom taken to heart by the very person who has it to offer. Wilde suggests that the true utility of good advice lies not so much in personal application as in its movement from person to person, like a currency more valuable when circulating than hoarded.

The phrase points to a common human tendency: recognizing the value of sound counsel in theory, but struggling to act on it when our own emotions, attachments, and circumstances are at play. Giving advice to others can feel easy; we see situations objectively, untangled from the passions and distractions that cloud our own judgment when faced with personal dilemmas. There’s an inherent irony in how clear the path often seems when it does not involve our own vulnerabilities.

Transferring advice becomes a kind of social ritual, an act of generosity and connection, even a subtle way to assert wisdom. It allows individuals to play the role of guide for others, sometimes drawing on experiences where they themselves may have failed to follow the very guidance they now impart. Once shared, good advice becomes a communal asset, subject to interpretation and possible transformation in another’s hands.

Wilde’s observation also hints at a certain folly in humanity: our tendency to idealize principles but falter in personal discipline. The real challenge is not knowing what is wise, but mustering the fortitude to act upon wisdom in the face of desire, habit, or fear. Advice is thus rendered somewhat useless to oneself precisely because self-application requires more than awareness, it asks for self-mastery. Wilde’s remark, layered with irony and humor, reflects the enduring foibles of human counsel, self-knowledge, and the curious pleasure of sharing what we ourselves may struggle to practice.