“The more we study Art, the less we care for Nature.”
Oscar Wilde book Intentions
What Art really reveals to us is Nature's lack of design, her curious crudities, her extraordinary monotony, her absolutely unfinished condition.
Intentions (1891)
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@xy, member from Sept. 25, 2023Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish writer and poet
The Critic as Artist (1891), Part II
Context: England has done one thing; it has invented and established Public Opinion, which is an attempt to organize the ignorance of the community, and to elevate it to the dignity of physical force.
“The only thing that one really knows about human nature is that it changes.”
Oscar Wilde book The Soul of Man under Socialism
The Soul of Man Under Socialism (1891)
Context: The only thing that one really knows about human nature is that it changes. Change is the one quality we can predicate of it. The systems that fail are those that rely on the permanency of human nature, and not on its growth and development. The error of Louis XIV was that he thought human nature would always be the same. The result of his error was the French Revolution. It was an admirable result. All the results of the mistakes of governments are quite admirable.
“An excellent man: he has no enemies, and none of his friends like him.”
Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish writer and poet
Quoted by George Bernard Shaw in a letter to Ellen Terry, 25 September 1896.
Context: On George Bernard Shaw An excellent man: he has no enemies, and none of his friends like him.
“I knew nothing but shadows and I thought them to be real.”
Oscar Wilde book The Picture of Dorian Gray
Source: The Picture of Dorian Gray
Oscar Wilde The Importance of Being Earnest
Cecily, Act II
Source: The Importance of Being Earnest (1895)
Oscar Wilde The Importance of Being Earnest
Phrases and Philosophies for the Use of the Young (1894)
Variant: The only way to atone for being occasionally a little over-dressed is by being always absolutely over-educated
Source: The Importance of Being Earnest
Context: The only way to atone for being occasionally a little over-dressed is by being always absolutely over-educated.
“Life is never fair, and perhaps it is a good thing for most of us that it is not.”
Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish writer and poet
“Only the shallow know themselves.”
Oscar Wilde book Phrases and Philosophies for the Use of the Young
Phrases and Philosophies for the Use of the Young (1894)
“I don’t say we all ought to misbehave. But we ought to look as if we could”
Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish writer and poet
“The mystery of love is greater than the mystery of death.”
le mystère de l'amour est plus grand que le mystère de la mort.
Source: Salomé (1893)
“This wallpaper is dreadful, one of us will have to go.”
Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish writer and poet
“I never put off till tomorrow what I can possibly do - the day after.”
Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish writer and poet
“Hear no evil, speak no evil, and you won't be invited to cocktail parties.”
Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish writer and poet