The 60 best quotes by Oscar Wilde

The Irish writer is one of the most brilliant minds that ever walked our planet.

Oscar Wilde was born in Ireland in 1854 and died in France in 1900, outstanding poet, writer, playwright and renowned wit that surfaced at an early age. Interestingly, the British author was educated at home until he was 9 years old, receiving a homely but cultured education from his parents.

Among his qualities, Oscar Wilde was interested in the aestheticism movement, in "art for art's sake" and in poetry. In addition, surely influenced by the philanthropic character of his father, he was politically positioned by a socialism of an anarchist character that cost him more than one displeasure with the authorities.

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The most famous quotes by Oscar Wilde

He was an extroverted, unique, groundbreaking character who at times was immersed in scandal for breaking with the social norms of manhood. He was even accused of being homosexual, a crime at that time.

Here we leave you some of Oscar Wilde's most outstanding phrases.

1. Experience has no ethical value; it is simply the name we give to our mistakes.

This is how the author described experience.

2. A man can be happy with any woman as long as he does not love her.

The complexity of love is described, in Wilde's way, in this statement.

3. We spend years without living at all, and suddenly our whole life is concentrated in a single instant.

Sometimes happiness is measured in an instant.

4. Women are made to be loved, not to be understood.

Oscar Wilde saw the relationship between a man and a woman in this way.

5. I have long conversations with myself, and I am so clever that sometimes I don't understand a word I say.

This is how witty and extravagant the author was.

6. There is nothing like the love of a married woman. It is a thing that no husband has the slightest idea of.

A phrase to reflect on marriage.

7. If you want to know what a woman is really saying, look at her, don't listen to her.

The female figure was a recurring theme for Oscar Wilde. He felt passion.

8. The least frequent thing in this world is to live. Most people exist

Sometimes we go so unnoticed that we seem to have no soul.

9. The only advantage of playing with fire is that you learn not to get burned.

Human beings only learn by making mistakes.

10. To love oneself is the beginning of an adventure that lasts a lifetime.

To love others, we must first love ourselves.

11. I'm not going to stop talking to you just because you're not listening to me. I like to listen to myself.

He was witty and exceptional in any situation.

12. We must never marry if we intend to remain in love.

This was Wilde's reflection on marriage.

13. God made a separate world for each person, and in that world we must try to live together.

Each person is a world, and we should all have empathy for one another.

14. Questions are never indiscreet, answers are.

A phrase for deep reflection.

15. A cynical man is one who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.

Cynicism is a recurring theme in many Western writers.

16. If you want to infuriate your enemy, forgive him.

A peculiar way of making peace with a persona non grata.

17. Children love their parents. When they grow up, they judge them

Reason or fallacy?

18. The best way to get rid of temptation is to fall into it.

We should not repress our instincts. If we feel like something, we consume it.

19. The only way for a man to behave with a woman is to make love to her.

It seems that Oscar Wilde saw women as little more than sexual objects, unfortunately.

20. Work is the refuge of those who have nothing to do

This is how the British author criticized the labor system in which he lived.

21. The worst thing in this world is not to be in the mouths of others, but not to be in the mouths of anyone.

It is better to be criticized than to be ignored.

22. Man believes in the impossible, not in the improbable.

It is part of the ambition that moves man to progress and development.

23. We judge others because we do not dare to judge ourselves.

We should learn to be more self-critical and not look so much at others.

24. Advising the poor on economics is like advising a starving man to eat less.

Oscar Wilde was a strong advocate of socialism and the working class.

25. Society never forgives the dreamer. Yes to the criminal

Social pressure is high when we want to stand out with something different.

26. The best thing you can do to a child is to make him/her happy.

Above education and giving him everything, what a child needs is to feel good.

27. Ambition is the refuge of failure

For some people, ambition is stupidity.

28. To be in good health is not to get up early or to do sport.

Oscar Wilde was always so critical of established stereotypes.

29. Men are analyzed, women are loved

Once again he affirms the constant love that women need.

30. Success goes to the strong and failure goes to the weak.

History is always written by the victors.

31. He would do anything to be young again, except play sports.

He didn't like physical exercise or discipline at all.

32. The only thing that consoles men for the stupid things they have done is pride in doing them.

Pride is a very dangerous weapon, which often leads us into error.

33. The less we talk about the wounds of life, the better.

Positivism above all.

34. Two rules for writing: have something to say and say it.

A rule that every good writer should apply.

35. Laughter is not a bad beginning for friendship.

Oscar Wilde's sense of humor was part of his personality and flamboyance.

36. Ugly women are jealous of their husbands.

Curious way of relating the physical with marital behavior.

37. Believing is very monotonous, doubt and curiosity are exciting.

Interesting contribution to explore new experiences.

39. To be talked about is frightening. Not to be talked about is worse

To be ignored is the worst of evils.

40. A woman capable of telling her age, is capable of telling everything.

Thus the playwright measured the sincerity of the female sex.

41. When a man marries for the second time, it is because he loved the first one.

This phrase will give much food for thought to those who are engaged for the second time.

42. Nothing worthwhile can be taught.

This invokes us to think deeply.

43. Beauty needs no explanation, it is superior to genius.

Beauty is not something that needs interpretation. Only observation.

44. People are just boring or charming. Not good or bad

The British author hated labels, especially negatively charged ones.

45. Young people think money is everything, and when they get older they prove it.

It is the law of life. It happens to all of us as we grow up.

46. To suffer for one's own faults, that is the nightmare of life.

We forgive external mistakes and damages, but not our own.

47. Single people should pay more taxes. It is not fair that they should be richer than others.

A funny way to reflect on singleness.

48. As a bad person, I'm a complete mess

Some said that Oscar Wilde never did anything wrong, or hurt anyone.

49. I choose my friends by their looks, my acquaintances by their character, and my enemies by their reason.

It is very important to know why we surround ourselves with those who surround us.

50. We all live in the sewers, but some of us look up at the stars.

It is a question of knowing how to take life philosophically.

51. When I think about my defects, I fall asleep immediately.

It is never necessary to think about the bad things, but to promote the good virtues.

52. Music is the closest thing to tears and memories.

Oscar Wilde was in love with the art of music.

53. Temptation is the only thing I can't hold back.

Once again, the author invokes neither containment nor emotional repression.

54. In marriage, the woman holds all the cards but loses the game.

This statement must be understood in the context of the times in which Oscar Wilde lived.

55. The more conservative the ideas, the more revolutionary they are

The more radical one is, the more changes can be carried out.

56. Modern journalism keeps us in touch with the ignorance of the community.

He was a great critic of journalism and its contribution to society.

57. Married men are horribly boring when they are good.

You said it, marrying is a mistake for lasting love.

58. In art as in love, tenderness is what gives strength

A good metaphor for understanding passion in art.

59. No man is rich enough to buy his past.

The past can be a very heavy burden emotionally speaking.

60. To be natural is the most difficult of all poses

We live conditioned and dogmatized by too many standards.