Quotes by Oscar Wilde

Death and vulgarity are the only two facts in the nineteenth century that one cannot explain away.

Biography lends to death a new terror.

If one plays good music, people dont listen and if one plays bad music people dont talk.

The old believe everything, the middle-aged suspect everything, the young know everything.

Some cause happiness wherever they go others whenever they go.

I choose my friends for their good looks, my acquaintances for their good characters, and my enemies for their intellects. A man cannot be too careful in the choice of his enemies.

I want my food dead. Not sick, not dying, dead.

Beauty is the only thing that time cannot harm. Philosophies fall away like sand, creeds follow one another, but what is beautiful is a joy for all seasons, a possession for all eternity.

Education is an admirable thing, but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is worth knowing can be taught.

Women are made to be loved, not understood.

Women are never disarmed by compliments. Men always are. That is the difference between the sexes.

I see when men love women. They give them but a little of their lives. But women when they love give everything.

Men marry because they are tired; women, because they are curious; both are disappointed.

Laughter is not at all a bad beginning for a friendship, and it is far the best ending for one.

In designing the scenery and costumes for any of Shakespeares plays, the first thing the artist has to settle is the best date for the drama. This should be determined by the general spirit of the play more than by any actual historical references which may occur in it.

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

Life is never fair, and perhaps it is a good thing for most of us that it is not.

I sometimes think that God in creating man somewhat overestimated his ability.

Experience is simply the name we give our mistakes.

You will always be fond of me. I represent to you all the sins you have never had the courage to commit.