xy

@xy, member from Sept. 25, 2023

Favourite quotes (21448)

“I'm a man of simple tastes. I'm always satisfied with the best.”

Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish writer and poet

Variant: I have simple tastes. I am always satisfied with the best

“Oscar Wilde was suing the Marquis of Queensbury in 1895 for libel accusing Wilde of homosexuality

Counsel: Have you ever adored a young man madly?
Wilde: I have never given adoration to anyone except myself.”

Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish writer and poet

“Lord Illingworth: Discontent is the first step in the progress of a man or a nation.”

Oscar Wilde A Woman of No Importance

Act II
A Woman of No Importance (1893)

“The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention.”

Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish writer and poet

“It is through art, and through art only, that we can realize our perfection; through art and art only that we can shield ourselves from the sordid perils of actual existence.”

Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish writer and poet

The Critic as Artist (1891), Part II

“When I think of all the harm [the Bible] has done, I despair of ever writing anything to equal it.”

Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish writer and poet

“Women, as some witty Frenchman once put it, inspire us with the desire to do masterpieces and always prevent us from carrying them out.”

Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish writer and poet

Source: The Picture of Dorian Gray and Other Writings

“The soul is a terrible reality. It can be bought and sold and bartered away.”

Oscar Wilde book The Picture of Dorian Gray

Source: The Picture of Dorian Gray

“Wisdom comes with winters”

Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish writer and poet

“The gods are strange. It is not our vices only they make instruments to scourge us. They bring us to ruin through what in us is good, gentle, humane, loving.”

Oscar Wilde book De Profundis

Source: De Profundis

“Indeed, no woman should ever be quite accurate about her age. It looks so calculating.”

Oscar Wilde The Importance of Being Earnest

Source: The Importance of Being Earnest

“My dear fellow, the truth isn't quite the sort of thing one tells to a nice, sweet, refined girl.”

Oscar Wilde The Importance of Being Earnest

Jack, Act I
Source: The Importance of Being Earnest (1895)

“I am happy in my prison of passion”

Oscar Wilde book The Picture of Dorian Gray

Source: The Picture of Dorian Gray

“I hate vulgar realism in literature. The man who would call a spade a spade should be compelled to use one.”

Oscar Wilde book The Picture of Dorian Gray

Source: The Picture of Dorian Gray

“It is better to be beautiful then to be good, but it is better to be good then to be ugly.”

Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish writer and poet

Variant: It is better to be beautiful than to be good, but it is better to be good than to be ugly.

“And what sort of lives do these people, who pose as being moral, lead themselves? My dear fellow, you forget that we are in the native land of the hypocrite.”

Oscar Wilde book The Picture of Dorian Gray

Source: The Picture of Dorian Gray

“A writer is someone who has taught his mind to misbehave.”

Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish writer and poet

“Love is a gross exaggeration of the difference between one person and everybody else.”

Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish writer and poet

“Arguments are to be avoided, they are always vulgar and often convincing.”

Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish writer and poet

Variant: I dislike arguments of any kind. They are always vulgar and often convincing.

“Alcohol, taken in sufficient quantities, may produce all the effects of drunkenness.”

Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish writer and poet