It's important to note that this quote is often taken out of context and attributed to Wilde without the full context. The quote is actually part of a longer passage from his play "Lady Windermere's Fan", where the character Lord Darlington says:
>"Men without imagination are always afraid of the beautiful. They think it is dangerous. They try to escape from it, to hide themselves from it, to forget it, to destroy it. But it is always there, waiting for them, beckoning them, calling them back. For beauty is the strongest thing in the world."
This passage highlights Wilde's nuanced view on beauty and imagination. It suggests that those who lack imagination see beauty as a threat, something to be feared rather than appreciated.
It's essential to remember that the quote is a fictional character's opinion within a specific context, not a universally accepted truth.