Quotes from Oscar Wilde

I am jealous of everything whose beauty does not die.

you will always love, and you will always be loved

I represent to you all the sins you have never had the courage to commit.

What a fuss people make about fidelity! exclaimed Lord Henry. Why, even in love it is purely a question for physiology. It has nothing to do with our own will. Young men want to be faithful, and are not; old men want to be faithless, and cannot: that is all one can say.

Travel improves the mind wonderfully, and does away with all one's prejudices.

My dear Algy, you talk exactly as if you were a dentist. It is very vulgar to talk like a dentist when one isn't a dentist. It produces false impression

It is always painful to part from people whom one has known for a brief space of time. The absence of old friends one can endure with equanimity, But even a momentary separation from anyone to whom one has just been introduced is almost unbearable.

Nature....she will hang the night stars so that I may walk abroad in the darkness without stumbling, and send word the wind over my footprints so that none may track me to my hurt: she will cleanse me in great waters, and with bitter herbs make me whole.

Life is terrible. It rules us, we do not rule it.

All great ideas are dangerous.

Cecily. This is no time for wearing the shallow mask of manners. When I see a spade I call it a spade. Gwendolen. [Satirically.] I am glad to say that I have never seen a spade. It is obvious that our social spheres have been widely different.

It is always a silly thing to give advice, but to give good advice is absolutely fatal.

When a golden girl can win Prayer from out the lips of sin, When the barren almond bears, And a little child gives away its tears, Then shall all the house be still And peace come to Canterville.

Every single human being should be the fulfilment of a prophecy: for every human being should be the realisation of some ideal, either in the mind of God or in the mind of man.

Know thyself' was written over the portal of the antique world. Over the portal of the new world, 'Be thyself' shall be written.

I am not at all cynical, I have merely got experience, which, however, is very much the same thing.

It is better to have a permanent income than to be fascinating.

You are a sceptic. Never! Scepticism is the beginning of faith. What are you? To define is to limit.

Only dull people are brilliant at breakfast

You silly Arthur! If you knew anything about...anything, which you don't, you would know that I adore you. Everyone in London knows it except you. It is a public scandal the way I adore you. I have been going about for the last six months telling the whole of society that I adore you. I wonder you consent to have anything to say to me. I have no character left at all. At least, I feel so happy that I am quite sure I have no character left at all.

Nothing annoys people so much as not receiving invitations.

If I could get back my youth, I'd do anything in the world except get up early, take exercise or be respectable.

The studio was filled with the rich odour of roses, and when the light summer wind stirred amidst the trees of the garden, there came through the open door the heavy scent of the lilac, or the more delicate perfume of the pink-flowering thorn.

I hope to-morrow will be a fine day, Lane. It never is, sir. Lane, you're a perfect pessimist. I do my best to give satisfaction, sir.