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Oscar Wilde

106 quotes

Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) was an Irish poet and playwright who became one of the most celebrated writers of the late Victorian era. Famous for his biting wit, flamboyant style, and masterful use of language, Wilde wrote enduring works including *The Importance of Being Earnest* and *The Picture of Dorian Gray*.

“What we have to do, what at any rate it is our duty to do, is to revive the old art of Lying.”

— Oscar Wilde

Art

All Quotes by Oscar Wilde

“I put all my genius into my life I put only my talent into my works.”

— Oscar Wilde

Life

“Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.”

— Oscar Wilde

Truth

“All women become like their mothers. That is their tragedy. No man does. That's his.”

— Oscar Wilde

Women

“There are only two tragedies in life: one is not getting what one wants, and the other is getting it.”

— Oscar Wilde

Life

“It is better to be beautiful than to be good. But... it is better to be good than to be ugly.”

— Oscar Wilde

Good

“One can survive everything, nowadays, except death, and live down everything except a good reputation.”

— Oscar Wilde

Death

“How can a woman be expected to be happy with a man who insists on treating her as if she were a perfectly normal human being.”

— Oscar Wilde

Marriage

“I always pass on good advice. It is the only thing to do with it. It is never of any use to oneself.”

— Oscar Wilde

Good

“I suppose society is wonderfully delightful. To be in it is merely a bore. But to be out of it is simply a tragedy.”

— Oscar Wilde

Society

“Everybody who is incapable of learning has taken to teaching.”

— Oscar Wilde

Learning

“There is something terribly morbid in the modern sympathy with pain. One should sympathise with the colour, the beauty, the joy of life. The less said about life's sores the better.”

— Oscar Wilde

Beauty

“The truth is rarely pure and never simple.”

— Oscar Wilde

Truth

“Experience is one thing you can't get for nothing.”

— Oscar Wilde

Experience

“As long as war is regarded as wicked, it will always have its fascination. When it is looked upon as vulgar, it will cease to be popular.”

— Oscar Wilde

War

“It is only an auctioneer who can equally and impartially admire all schools of art.”

— Oscar Wilde

Art

“Life imitates art far more than art imitates Life.”

— Oscar Wilde

Art

“When good Americans die they go to Paris.”

— Oscar Wilde

Good

“There is always something ridiculous about the emotions of people whom one has ceased to love.”

— Oscar Wilde

Love

“When a man has once loved a woman he will do anything for her except continue to love her.”

— Oscar Wilde

Love

“It is a very sad thing that nowadays there is so little useless information.”

— Oscar Wilde

Sad