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78 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 1893
I always pass on good advice. It is the only thing to do with it. It is never of any use to oneself.There are a few eyebrow-raisingly dated lines here as well (the worst is: "A man's life is of more value than a woman's. It has larger issues, wider scope, greater ambitions. A women's life revolves around curves of emotions."). It's pretty infrequent, and is probably just a reflection of Victorian times, though I have to wonder whether Oscar Wilde was just playing with his audience's expectations. But other than those couple of needle-scratch moments, this is a very amusing play that gives us some great food for thought about relationships and forgiveness.
Talks more and says less than anybody I ever met. She is made to be a public speaker.
You see, it is a very dangerous thing to listen. If one listens one may be convinced; and a man who allows himself to be convinced by an argument is a thoroughly unreasonable person.
Lord Goring: I am going to give you some good advice.
Mrs. Cheveley: Oh! pray don't. One should never give a woman anything that she can't wear in the evening.
I don't like principles, father. I prefer prejudices.
LADY BASILDON: Ah! I hate being educated!
MRS. MARCHMONT: So do I. It puts one almost on a level with the commercial classes, doesn't it?
Oh, I love London Society! I think it has immensely improved. It is entirely composed now of beautiful idiots and brilliant lunatics. Just what Society should be.
Questions are never indiscreet. Answers sometimes are.
You see, it is a very dangerous thing to listen. If one listens one may be convinced; and a man who allows himself to be convinced by an argument is a thoroughly unreasonable person.
Oh, I like tedious, practical subjects. What I don't like are tedious, practical people.
Every man of ambition has to fight his century with its own weapons. What this century worships is wealth. The God of this century is wealth. To succeed one must have wealth. At all costs one must have wealth.
I am always saying what I shouldn't say. In fact, I usually say what I really think. A great mistake nowadays. It makes one so liable to be misunderstood.
It is not the perfect, but the imperfect, who have need of love.
"Self-sacrifice is a thing that should be put down by law. It is so demoralizing to the people for whom one sacrifices oneself."