Quotations From OSCAR WILDE

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• 71.

  They flaunt their conjugal felicity in one's face, as if it were the most fascinating of sins.

  Oscar Wilde (1854-1900), Anglo-Irish playwright, author. Lord Henry, in The Picture of Dorian Gray, ch. 8 (1891).
• 72.

  Bad artists always admire each other's work. They call it being large-minded and free from prejudice. But a truly great artist cannot conceive of life being shown, or beauty fashioned, under any conditions other than those he has selected.

  Oscar Wilde (1854-1900), Anglo-Irish playwright, author. Gilbert, in The Critic as Artist, pt. 2, published in Intentions (1891).
  
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• 73.

  Nothing spoils a romance so much as a sense of humour in the woman.

  Oscar Wilde (1854-1900), Anglo-Irish playwright, author. Lord Illingworth, in A Woman of No Importance, act 1.
  
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• 74.

  A man who moralises is usually a hypocrite, and a woman who moralises is invariably plain.

  Oscar Wilde (1854-1900), Anglo-Irish playwright, author. Cecil Graham, in Lady Windermere's Fan, act 3.
  
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• 75.

  The English public, as a mass, takes no interest in a work of art until it is told that the work in question is immoral.

  Oscar Wilde (1854-1900), Anglo-Irish playwright, author. St. James's Gazette (London, June 27, 1890). Letter to the editor, answering criticisms leveled at his novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray.
  
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• 76.

  One can survive anything these days, except death, and live down anything except a good reputation.

  Oscar Wilde (1854-1900), Anglo-Irish playwright, author. Lord Illingworth, in A Woman of No Importance, act 1 (1891). Lord Henry uttered similar sentiments in Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray, ch. 19.
  
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• 77.

  We have really everything in common with America nowadays, except, of course, language.

  Oscar Wilde (1854-1900), Anglo-Irish playwright, author. repr. In Complete Works of Oscar Wilde, ed. J.B. Foreman (1966). The Canterville Ghost, ch. 1, Court and Society Review (London, Feb. 23 and March 2, 1887). The words, or similar ones, have often been attributed to George Bernard Shaw, though they are not to be found in Shaw's published writings. Bertrand Russell made a similar point in Saturday Evening Post, June 3, 1944: "It is a misfortune for Anglo- American friendship that the two countries are supposed to have a common language."
  
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• 78.

  The fact is, you have fallen lately, Cecily, into a bad habit of thinking for yourself. You should give it up. It is not quite womanly.... Men don't like it.

  Oscar Wilde (1854-1900), Anglo-Irish playwright, author. Miss Prism, in The Importance of Being Earnest, act 3.
• 79.

  I can resist everything except temptation.

  Oscar Wilde (1854-1900), Anglo-Irish playwright, author. Lord Darlington, in Lady Windermere's Fan, act 1 (1893). This was a favorite theme of Wilde's. In An Ideal Husband, act 2 (performed 1895, published 1899), Sir Robert Chiltern says to Lord Goring, "Do you really think, Arthur, that it is weakness that yields to temptation? I tell you that there are terrible temptations that it requires strength, strength and courage, to yield to." Again, in The Picture of Dorian Gray, ch. 2 (1891), Wilde wrote: "The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it."
• 80.

  She tried to found a salon, and only succeeded in opening a restaurant.

  Oscar Wilde (1854-1900), Anglo-Irish playwright, author. Lord Henry, in The Picture of Dorian Gray, ch. 1 (1891). Of Lady Brandon.