Oscar Wilde is probably the most sarcastic, swashbuckling, and sophisticated writer you will ever meet. He is one of my favourite authors because of his bold, humorous, and often sarcastic writing. In my opinion, his work has often showcased comedy as the art it truly is. His writings are filled with mic-drop moments, and Oscar Wilde’s quotes are stuff of legends. In this blog, let us look at some of his most popular quotes.
Oscar Wilde’s Quotes:
One. “Those who find ugly meanings in beautiful things are corrupt without being charming. This is a fault. Those who find beautiful meanings in beautiful things are the cultivated. For these there is hope. They are the elect to whom beautiful things mean only Beauty. There is no such thing as a moral or an immoral book. Books are well written, or badly written. That is all.”
We start with something slightly philosophical. This quote is from ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’ – Wilde’s one and only novel. In the book, it is Sir Henry Wotton who speaks these lines. However, it is evident that these are directed to the readers as well. Maybe Wilde had anticipated the criticism he would receive for this book and had decided to include a sarcastic taunt for the critics.
Two. “Be yourself; everyone else is already taken”
As a celebrated playwright, a lot of of Oscar Wilde quotes come from one of his best known plays: “The Importance of Being Earnest”. In the play, Jack Worthing speaks these lines. He is, ironically, pretending to be someone he is not in order to win the heart of Gwendolen Fairfax. Wilde fashioned this quote after his own way, as he was always showing off his uniqueness instead of trying to blend in.
Three. “To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.”
This quote appears in his essay “The Soul of Man Under Socialism”. The message the quote gives is as obvious as it is important. Life is a luxury that is meant to be enjoyed to the fullest. These lines contain the essence of the feelings of many other such authors, like Katherine Mansfield, who once famously remarked “risk…risk everything”.
Four. “We are all in a gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.”
This quote comes from Wilde’s play “Lady Windermere’s Fan”, spoken by lord Lord Darlington. Wilde created Lord Darlington to be a person like himself, attributing many quirky quotes to him in the duration of the play. The quote also sends out a message that everyone in life is struggling. What matters is whether you are struggling with a purpose, or without one.
Five. “The public is wonderfully tolerant. It forgives everything except genius.”
This quote appears in an essay titled “The Critic as an Artist”, which is contained in his collection of essays, “Intentions”. The context of this quote is just as interesting and I would urge you to read the full version. People may have different opinions about what Wilde says here. However, there can be no doubt that it provides a feast for thought, and makes for a good debate for the cold, winter nights.
Six. “To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance.”
This is from Wilde’s play “An Ideal Husband”. It is relevant even today, and is an ideal solution to one of our biggest problems, namely, depression. This is another reason for Oscar Wilde’s popularity because his work has always stayed relevant after many years.
Seven. “The truth is rarely pure and never simple.”
This quote is from Wilde’s novel “The Picture of Dorian Gray.” Spoken by Lord Henry Wotton, who is a cynical and world-weary man, the quote suggests that the truth is often complex and difficult to understand. It can be hard to accept the truth, especially if it is not what we want to hear.
Outro:
Oscar Wilde’s quotes are so entertaining just by themselves. And there are so many of them! Honestly, it was very difficult to select just seven quotes for this article. In the end, I selected ones that I personally liked. I hope you did too. Please consider subscribing to my blog and following me on social media. The hyperlinked social media icons are at the bottom of every page. I might come up with part 2 of Oscar Wilde’s quotes sometime later. But until then, au revoir!