Moreover, giving advice often functions as a performance of wisdom and care. By offering guidance, we signal competence, generosity, or moral standing, even when we privately struggle with the same behavior. Wilde’s punchline—“never of any use to oneself”—captures this asymmetry: the adviser may gain social credit immediately, while the hard work of change remains unpaid labor. In everyday life, this is why a friend can deliver a flawless speech about boundaries and then answer a toxic text message minutes later; the advice served a social moment more than a personal transformation. [...]
