An old metal key hanging from a golden thread in front of a dark green marble slab.

Original artwork, not a still

Oedipus Rex

Sophocles

Wisdom is a curse when wisdom does nothing for the man who has it.

Behind the line

What it means

Our interpretation.

The passage treats wisdom as a curse when it brings no benefit to its owner. That reverses the usual praise of being wise. One reading concerns the frustration of understanding something without finding that understanding useful, making insight feel burdensome rather than valuable.

Context reviewed

Share this quote