Oscar Wilde had a way with words that’s still unmatched. His plays, stories, and essays are not just entertaining; they’re packed with quotes that make you stop and think, and they’re as relevant now as they were in the 1800s. Let’s dive into 20 of the best that haven’t lost a bit of their edge over the years. Enjoy!
1. “We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.”
― Lady Windermere’s Fan (1892)
2. “Anybody can have common sense, provided that they have no imagination.”
― The Remarkable Rocket from The Happy Prince and Other Tales (1988)
3. “Experience, the name men gave to their mistakes.”
― Vera; or, The Nihilists (1880)
4. “Any place you love is the world to you.”
― The Remarkable Rocket from The Happy Prince and Other Tales (1988)
5. “Life is far too important a thing ever to talk seriously about.”
― Lady Windermere’s Fan (1892)
6. “Nowadays people know the price of everything and the value of nothing.”
― The Picture of Dorian Gray (1890)
7. “Every saint has a past and every sinner has a future.”
― A Woman of No Importance (1893)
8. “To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance.”
― An Ideal Husband (1895)
9. “Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone else’s opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation.”
― De Profundis (1897)
10. “You will always be fond of me. I represent to you all the sins you never had the courage to commit.”
― The Picture of Dorian Gray (1890)
11. “You are not rich enough to buy back your past. No man is.”
― An Ideal Husband (1895)
12. “In this world there are only two tragedies. One is not getting what one wants, and the other is getting it.”
― Lady Windermere’s Fan (1892)
13. “What a silly thing Love is. It is not as useful as Logic, for it does not prove anything, and it is always telling one of things that are not going to happen, and making one believe things that are not true.”
― The Nightingale And The Rose from The Happy Prince and Other Tales (1988)
14. “All women become like their mothers. That is their tragedy. No man does, and that is his.”
― The Importance of Being Earnest (1895)
15. “Death must be so beautiful. To lie in the soft brown earth, with the grasses waving above one’s head, and listen to silence. To have no yesterday, and no tomorrow. To forget time, to forgive life, to be at peace.”
― The Canterville Ghost (1887)
16. “With freedom, flowers, books, and the moon, who could not be perfectly happy?”
― De Profundis (1897)
17. “The mystery of love is greater than the mystery of death.”
― Salomé (1893)
18. “Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.”
― The Critic as Artist (1891)
19. “I am so clever that sometimes I don’t understand a single word of what I am saying.”
― The Remarkable Rocket from The Happy Prince and Other Tales (1988)
20. “To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.”
― The Soul of Man Under Socialism (1891)
Before we wrap up, heads up: Many quotes attributed to Oscar Wilde online, like “Be yourself; everyone else is already taken”, “Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go” or “True friends stab you in the front” aren’t his. They’re not from any of his work and there is no evidence he ever made these remarks. I love Wilde’s wit, but let’s get it right!
If you liked this quote collection, don’t be shy – share it on your socials and give The Rockle a shoutout. We’re everywhere! And, if you’re after more wisdom from the literary greats, check out these goodies:
🔖 10 Beautiful C.S. Lewis Quotes
🔖 Emily Dickinson: Heartfelt Quotes
🔖 Timeless Love Quotes from Literature
🔖 John Steinbeck: Unforgettable Quotes
🔖 10 Powerful Ernest Hemingway Quotes
Happy reading!
Sophie
Monday 8th of January 2024
These are so pretty! I love your posts, Rena. ❤