Quotes from Oscar Wilde

The one charm of marriage is that it makes a life of deception absolutely necessary for both parties.

It is he who has broken the bond of marriage - not I. I only break its bondage.

The only thing that ever consoles man for the stupid things he does is the praise he always gives himself for doing them.

And thus we rust Life's iron chain Degraded and alone: And some men curse, and some men weep, And some men make no moan: But God's eternal Laws are kind And break the heart of stone

Sometimes the poor are praised for being thrifty. But to recommend thrift to the poor is both grotesque and insulting. It is like advising a man who is starving to eat less.

When a man has once loved a woman he will do anything for her except continue to love her.

What is abnormal in Life stands in normal relations to Art. It is the only thing in Life that stands in normal relations to Art. A subject that is beautiful in itself gives no suggestion to the artist. It lacks imperfection. The only thing that the artist cannot see is the obvious.

Sin is a thing that writes itself across a man's face. It cannot be concealed. People talk sometimes of secret vices. There are no such things. If a wretched man has a vice, it shows itself in the lines of his mouth, the droop of his eyelids, the moulding of his hands even.

Ah! The strength of women comes from the fact that psychology cannot explain us. Men can be analyzed, women...merely adored.

I prefer women with a past. They're always so damned amusing to talk to.

The one person who has more illusions than the dreamer is the man of action.

Believe me, no civilized man ever regrets a pleasure, and no uncivilized man ever knows what a pleasure is.