“To lose one parent may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both looks like carelessness.”
— Oscar Wilde
Simplified Meaning:
Losing a single parent is a very sad event and can happen to anyone due to things beyond their control, like illness or accidents. However, losing both parents suggests that maybe the person wasn’t careful enough or didn’t take proper steps to avoid it. It's as if one mistake can be forgiven, but two similar mistakes make it look like you weren’t paying attention. For example, imagine you have a precious heirloom from your grandparents. If one day it breaks because you accidentally dropped it, people will understand that accidents happen. But if you then go on to lose another precious heirloom shortly after because you left it somewhere carelessly, people might think you’re not being careful with important things. This quote encourages being mindful and protective over valuable parts of life to prevent unnecessary and avoidable losses. It suggests that while bad luck can happen, repeated incidents might mean a need for better vigilance and care.