Oscar Wilde

Loveless marriages are horrible. But there is one thing worse than an absolutely loveless marriage. A marriage in which there is love, but on one side only; faith, but on one side only; devotion, but on one side only, and in which of the two hearts one is sure to be broken.

A temperament capable of receiving, through an imaginative medium, and under imaginative conditions, new and beautiful impressions, is the only temperament that can appreciate a work of art.

The best art is about individualism, free self-expression and realising a unique, imaginative perspective- A true artist takes no notice whatever of the public. The public are to him non-existent.

Freedom, individualism and being yourself so long as you don't hurt another's physical person or property: The true artist is a man who believes absolutely in himself, because he is absolutely himself.

A work of art is the unique result of a unique temperament. Its beauty comes from the fact that the author is what he is. ...Art is the most intense mode of Individualism that the world has known. I am inclined to say that it is the only real mode of Individualism that the world has known. ...Art is Individualism...

Art is individualism, and individualism is a disturbing and disintegrating force. There lies its immense value. For what it seeks is to disturb monotony of type, slavery of custom, tyranny of habit, and the reduction of man to the level of a machine. It seeks to show new perspectives and other choices. It is a way to help expand and liberate the consciousness; our experiences, understandings, imaginings, options and thereby our lives.

Yes, I am a thorough republican. No other form of government is so favorable to the growth of art. ...because of the importance it places on the individual, their liberty, self-expression, creativity, and personal responsibility.

All art is at once surface and symbol.

Beauty ...is of the great facts in the world like sunlight, or springtime, or the reflection in dark water of that silver shell we call the moon.

I am a man of simple pleasures. The best suits me perfectly.

His style is chaos illumined by flashes of lightning. As a writer he has mastered everything except language.

What seems to us as bitter trials are often blessings in disguise for which we are later, in the fullness of time and understanding, very grateful for!

We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars. We all have clouds above us but some see their silver linings. We all face difficulties but some of us are grateful that they aren't worse.

People sometimes inquire what form of government is most suitable for an artist to live under. To this question there is only one answer. The form of government that is most suitable to the artist is no government at all.

A subject that is beautiful in itself gives no suggestion to the artist. It lacks imperfection.

Sphinxes without secrets.

Her capacity for family affection is extraordinary. When her third husband died, her hair turned quite gold from grief.

Women's styles may change but their designs remain the same.

A mutual misunderstanding.

Frank Harris has been received in all the great houses - once.

Marriage is hardly a thing one can do now and then, except in America.

I am afraid he has one of those terribly weak natures that are susceptible to influence.

Never buy anything simply because it is expensive.

One should never make one's entrance with a scandal. One should reserve that to give an interest to one's old age.

What seems to us as bitter trials are often blessings in disguise [in the future. But only if we set out to make this true and anticipate it so we look for the blessings until we find them].

Some temptations are so great it takes great courage to yield to them.

A virtuous abstinence from the joys of pederasty comes most easily to those who have no taste for it.

I dislike modern memoirs. They are generally written by people who have either entirely lost their memories, or have never done anything worth remembering.

She had a passion for secrecy, but she herself was merely a Sphinx without a secret.

A man who takes himself too seriously will find that no one else takes him seriously.