Oscar Wilde book The Soul of Man under Socialism
The Soul of Man Under Socialism (1891)
Context: Art is Individualism, and Individualism is a disturbing and disintegrating force. Therein lies its immense value. For what it seeks to disturb is monotony of type, slavery of custom, tyranny of habit, and the reduction of man to the level of a machine.
“I represent to you all the sins you have never had the courage to commit.”
Oscar Wilde book The Picture of Dorian Gray
Variant: You will always be fond of me. I represent to you all the sins you never had the courage to commit.
Source: The Picture of Dorian Gray
Oscar Wilde The Importance of Being Earnest
The Philosophy of Dress, The New-York Tribune, 1885. For an analysis see Fashion a Form of Ugliness http://www.oscarwildeinamerica.org/quotations/fashion-a-form-of-ugliness.html <br class="br">Source: The Importance of Being Earnest
“I have spent most of the day putting in a comma and the rest of the day taking it out.”
Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish writer and poet
“She lacks the indefinable charm of weakness.”
Oscar Wilde book The Picture of Dorian Gray
Variant: She is very clever, too clever for a woman. She lacks the indefinable charm of weakness.
Source: The Picture of Dorian Gray
“When critics disagree the artist is in accord with himself.”
Oscar Wilde book The Picture of Dorian Gray
Source: The Picture of Dorian Gray
“I always like to know everything about my new friends, and nothing about my old ones.”
Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish writer and poet
“A burnt child loves the fire.”
Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish writer and poet
Source: The Picture of Dorian Gray
“The true perfection of man lies not in what man has, but in what man is.”
Oscar Wilde book The Soul of Man under Socialism
Source: The Soul of Man Under Socialism (1891)
Context: For the recognition of private property has really harmed Individualism, and obscured it, by confusing a man with what he possesses. It has led Individualism entirely astray. It has made gain not growth its aim. So that man thought that the important thing was to have, and did not know that the important thing is to be. The true perfection of man lies, not in what man has, but in what man is. Private property has crushed true Individualism, and set up an Individualism that is false. It has debarred one part of the community from being individual by starving them. It has debarred the other part of the community from being individual by putting them on the wrong road and encumbering them.
“One's past is what one is. It is the only way by which people should be judged.”
Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish writer and poet
“You can have your secret as long as I have your heart[. ]”
Oscar Wilde book The Canterville Ghost
Source: The Canterville Ghost
“It is always a silly thing to give advice, but to give good advice is absolutely fatal.”
Oscar Wilde Lady Windermere's Fan
The Portrait of Mr. W. H. (1889), p. 5
Source: Lady Windermere's Fan
