1856-1900, British Author, Wit
In old days men had the rack. Now they have the Press.
Oscar Wilde – [Media]


In spite of the roaring of the young lions at the Union, and the screaming of the rabbits in the home of the vivisect, in spite of Keble College, and the tramways, and the sporting prints, Oxford still remains the most beautiful thing in England, and nowhere else are life and art so exquisitely blended, so perfectly made one.
Oscar Wilde – [Colleges and Universities]


In the old times men carried out their rights for themselves as they lived, but nowadays every baby seems born with a social manifesto in its mouth much bigger than itself.
Oscar Wilde – [Human Rights]


In this world there are two tragedies. One is not getting what one wants, and the other is getting it. The last is much the worst.
Oscar Wilde – [Tragedies]


It is a dangerous thing to reform anyone.
Oscar Wilde – [Change]


It is a sad truth, but we have lost the faculty of giving lovely names to things. Names are everything. I never quarrel with actions. My one quarrel is with words. The man who could call a spade a spade should be compelled to use one. It is the only thing he is fit for.
Oscar Wilde – [Names]


It is absurd to divide people into good and bad. People are either charming or tedious.
Oscar Wilde – [People, Other]


It is always the unreadable that occurs.
Oscar Wilde – [News]


It is because Humanity has never known where it was going that it has been able to find its way.
Oscar Wilde – [Humankind]


It is better to be beautiful than to be good, but it is better to be good than to be ugly.
Oscar Wilde – [Beauty]


It is better to have a permanent income than to be fascinating.
Oscar Wilde – [Security]


It is he who has broken the bond of marriage — not I. I only break its bondage.
Oscar Wilde – [Divorce]


It is only by not paying one's bills that one can hope to live in the memory of the commercial classes.
Oscar Wilde – [Bills]


It is only shallow people who do not judge by appearances. The true mystery of the world is the visible, not the invisible.
Oscar Wilde – [Appearance]


It is only the modern that ever becomes old-fashioned.
Oscar Wilde – [Modern and Modernism]


It is only the superficial qualities that last. Man's deeper nature is soon found out.
Oscar Wilde – [Character]


It is only the unimaginative who ever invents. The true artist is known by the use he makes of what he annexes.
Oscar Wilde – [Invention and Inventor]


It is perfectly monstrous the way people go about nowadays saying things against one, behind one's back, that are absolutely and entirely true.
Oscar Wilde – [Gossip]


It is the confession, not the priest, that gives us absolution.
Oscar Wilde – [Confession]


It is very vulgar to talk about one's business. Only people like stockbrokers do that, and then merely at dinner parties.
Oscar Wilde – [Business]

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