Which statement best explains the paradox in this line?
Algernon. It is awfully hard work doing nothing.
- The Importance of Being Earnest,
Oscar Wilde
No one would agree that doing nothing is hard
work, so the statement is clearly meant as a joke.
Algernon thinks that doing nothing is hard work, but
he does not actually know what hard work is like.
Doing nothing seems like it should be quite easy,
but sometimes it really can be difficult to do nothing.

This statement explains the paradox:

Doing nothing seems like it should be quite easy,  but sometimes it really can be difficult to do nothing.

Explanation:

In Oscar Wilde's 'The Importance of being Earnest' the charades of a landed bourgeoisie society are taken apart and this statement is one of the greatest takeaways from it. That the financial independence of such a class would leave them to do nothing can stunt their mind and leave them restless even as they live a life of comfort.

SO, while  being free can be preferred to hard work but it is awfully hard to never do anything as humans are supposed to work by nature.

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