Meaning of this quote, please!

Summer3Could anyone please tell me the meaning of this quote of O. Wilde:

Seriousness is the only refuge of the shallow.

Thanks!

shallow = not very intelligent

refuge = safety

For those who are not very intelligent,

The only way you might be able to deceive others into believing that you have great insight (even though your ideas are quite commonplace) is if you express yourself in a very serious way.

CJ

Ever tell a joke or attempt to encite laughter by talking about something taboo or edgy. I am sure Oscar Wilde has many times. I have a feeling he has been like me frustrated by the people that can't understand or handle laughing at themselves. I wouldn't doubt this or something similar being the inspiration behind these famous words.

It means that the only way to get deep into a topic is to take it seriously. Shallow people just jump from topic to topic and don't dig deeper.

Those who are shallow or less intelligent can't think fast enough to be witty in a conversation...they hide their shortcomings behind a facade of seriousness

the shallow can only find refuge in seriousness