Timeless Quotes by Oscar Wilde

Oscar Wilde, renowned for his wit, charm, and literary brilliance, left behind a legacy of sharp observations and memorable quotes.

His words often reflect his views on society, art, and human nature, revealing a profound understanding of the world.

This collection of Oscar Wilde quotes offers a glimpse into his unique perspective and eloquent expression.


Wit and Wisdom

“I can resist everything except temptation.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Highlights Wilde’s playful take on human nature and the struggle with desires.

“To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Reflects on the difference between truly living and merely existing.

“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Emphasizes the importance of individuality and authenticity.

“We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Suggests that despite life’s difficulties, one can still aspire to greater things.

“The only way to get rid of temptation is to yield to it.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Reflects Wilde’s paradoxical view on temptation and self-control.

“I have nothing to declare except my genius.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Playfully asserts his exceptional talent and confidence.

“Experience is simply the name we give our mistakes.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Reflects on the value of learning from mistakes.

“The truth is rarely pure and never simple.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Highlights the complexity and ambiguity of truth.

“I never put off till tomorrow what I can do the day after.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Demonstrates Wilde’s humorous take on procrastination.

“A good friend will always stab you in the front.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Suggests that true friends are honest and direct, even if it’s uncomfortable.

Love and Relationships

“Love is a many-splendored thing.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Celebrates the multifaceted nature of love.

“The heart was made to be broken.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Reflects on the inevitability of heartbreak as a part of love.

“To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Emphasizes the importance of self-love as the foundation for all relationships.

“We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Suggests that even in the lowest points of life, there is hope and aspiration.

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

  • Oscar Wilde
    Comments on the complexity and challenges of romantic relationships.

“The only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Reflects on the importance of public attention and reputation.

“I can resist everything except temptation.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Offers insight into Wilde’s playful view on human desires and relationships.

“There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Emphasizes the significance of maintaining public interest and attention.

“When you are in love you will find a thousand ways to say the same thing.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Highlights the abundance of expressions and feelings that come with love.

“The best way to appreciate your job is to imagine yourself without one.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Suggests finding value and appreciation in one’s current situation.

Art and Aesthetics

“All art is quite useless.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Reflects Wilde’s view on the intrinsic value of art, separate from practical utility.

“The only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Suggests that even negative attention is preferable to being ignored.

“Art is the most beautiful of all human creations.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Celebrates the beauty and significance of artistic endeavors.

“I am so clever that sometimes I don’t understand a single word of what I am saying.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Reflects Wilde’s self-aware humor regarding his own intellectual prowess.
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“To define is to limit.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Highlights the restrictive nature of definitions and the importance of open interpretation.

“The critic is the artist’s accomplice.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Suggests that critics play a role in the artistic process by engaging with and interpreting art.

“I have nothing to declare except my genius.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Playfully asserts his exceptional talent and artistic identity.

“Beauty is the only thing that time cannot harm.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Reflects on the timeless nature of true beauty.

“Art is the most beautiful of all human creations.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Celebrates the unparalleled beauty and significance of art.

“Every portrait that is painted with feeling is a portrait of the artist, not of the sitter.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Suggests that the true essence of a portrait reflects the artist’s inner world.

Society and Critique

“The only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Reflects on the significance of public attention and the consequences of being overlooked.

“We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Highlights the ability to maintain aspirations and hope despite societal challenges.

“Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Critiques socialism from his perspective, reflecting his views on social and economic systems.

“A good friend will always stab you in the front.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Suggests that true friends are honest and direct, even in difficult situations.

“The truth is rarely pure and never simple.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Comments on the complexity and often ambiguous nature of truth.

“The only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Highlights the value of maintaining public interest and attention.

“I have nothing to declare except my genius.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Playfully asserts his exceptional talent and self-confidence.

“The old believe everything, the middle-aged suspect everything, and the young know everything.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Reflects on the changing perspectives and attitudes associated with different age groups.

“The only way to deal with temptation is to yield to it.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Offers a paradoxical approach to handling temptations and desires.

“We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Emphasizes the importance of maintaining hope and ambition despite life’s challenges.

Life and Existence

“To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Reflects on the distinction between merely existing and truly living.

“Experience is simply the name we give our mistakes.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Highlights the learning process involved in making and reflecting on mistakes.

“The only way to get rid of temptation is to yield to it.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Reflects Wilde’s paradoxical view on dealing with temptations.

“Life is far too important a thing ever to talk seriously about.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Suggests that life’s seriousness is best approached with a sense of humor.

“I can resist anything except temptation.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Highlights the humorous struggle with self-control and desires.

“The truth is rarely pure and never simple.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Reflects on the complexity of truth and its often ambiguous nature.

“We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Suggests that even in difficult circumstances, one can still aspire to greater things.

“The heart was made to be broken.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Reflects on the inevitability of heartbreak as part of the human experience.

“The only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Emphasizes the importance of public attention and reputation.
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“To define is to limit.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Suggests that definitions restrict understanding and interpretation.

Humor and Irony

“I can resist everything except temptation.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Reflects Wilde’s playful and ironic view on human desires.

“Experience is simply the name we give our mistakes.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Offers a humorous take on the value of mistakes and learning.

“The only way to get rid of temptation is to yield to it.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Demonstrates Wilde’s ironic approach to dealing with temptations.

“The truth is rarely pure and never simple.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Highlights the ironic and complex nature of truth.

“I have nothing to declare except my genius.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Playfully asserts his exceptional talent with a touch of irony.

“The only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Uses irony to emphasize the significance of maintaining public interest.

“To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Highlights the ironic contrast between living and merely existing.

“We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Reflects on the irony of maintaining hope and aspiration despite adversity.

“A good friend will always stab you in the front.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Uses irony to describe the honesty of true friendship.

“The heart was made to be broken.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Reflects on the ironic nature of love and heartbreak.

Philosophy and Reflection

“To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Reflects on the philosophical distinction between living fully and merely existing.

“Experience is simply the name we give our mistakes.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Offers a philosophical perspective on learning from life’s errors.

“The only way to get rid of temptation is to yield to it.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Provides a philosophical take on the nature of temptation and self-control.

“The truth is rarely pure and never simple.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Highlights the philosophical complexity and ambiguity of truth.

“To define is to limit.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Reflects on the philosophical limitations imposed by definitions and categories.

“I can resist everything except temptation.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Illustrates a philosophical view on human nature and desire.

“Life is far too important a thing ever to talk seriously about.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Suggests a philosophical approach to life’s seriousness and humor.

“The only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Reflects on the philosophical implications of public attention and reputation.

“We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Offers a philosophical view on maintaining hope and aspiration despite adversity.

“The heart was made to be broken.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Reflects on the philosophical nature of love and emotional vulnerability.

Society and Culture

“The only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Highlights the significance of public attention and reputation in society.

“We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Suggests that despite societal challenges, one can maintain aspirations.

“Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Critiques socialism from his perspective on social and economic systems.

“The old believe everything, the middle-aged suspect everything, and the young know everything.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Reflects on the varying perspectives and attitudes of different age groups.

“To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Reflects on the distinction between truly living and merely existing in society.

“Experience is simply the name we give our mistakes.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Offers a commentary on how society values learning from errors.
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“The truth is rarely pure and never simple.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Highlights the complexity of truth in societal contexts.

“The only way to get rid of temptation is to yield to it.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Reflects on societal views on temptation and self-control.

“I have nothing to declare except my genius.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Playfully asserts his exceptional talent within the cultural context.

“To define is to limit.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Suggests that definitions restrict understanding in cultural and societal contexts.

Success and Ambition

“The only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Reflects on the role of public attention in achieving success and maintaining relevance.

“We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Highlights the importance of maintaining ambition and hope despite challenges.

“Experience is simply the name we give our mistakes.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Reflects on how success is often shaped by learning from errors.

“To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Suggests that achieving true success involves more than just existing.

“The only way to get rid of temptation is to yield to it.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Offers insight into the nature of ambition and the pursuit of desires.

“The truth is rarely pure and never simple.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Reflects on the complexities involved in achieving success and understanding truth.

“I can resist everything except temptation.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Highlights the challenges of overcoming desires in the pursuit of success.

“A good friend will always stab you in the front.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Reflects on the value of honesty and directness in relationships that contribute to success.

“The heart was made to be broken.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Suggests that overcoming emotional challenges is part of achieving success.

“The only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Emphasizes the importance of maintaining public interest and attention in achieving success.

Self-Reflection and Identity

“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Encourages embracing one’s individuality and authenticity.

“I can resist everything except temptation.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Reflects on the humorous struggle with self-control and desires.

“Experience is simply the name we give our mistakes.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Reflects on the process of learning from personal experiences and errors.

“The truth is rarely pure and never simple.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Highlights the complexity of personal understanding and identity.

“To define is to limit.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Suggests that personal definitions can restrict one’s identity and self-perception.

“The only way to get rid of temptation is to yield to it.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Reflects on personal challenges in managing desires and self-control.

“The heart was made to be broken.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Explores the inevitability of emotional vulnerability and personal growth.

“Life is far too important a thing ever to talk seriously about.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Suggests a light-hearted approach to understanding and discussing life.

“To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Emphasizes the distinction between truly living and merely existing.

“A good friend will always stab you in the front.”

  • Oscar Wilde
    Reflects on the value of honest and direct relationships in self-reflection.

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