Oscar Wilde was born in Ireland in 1854 and died in France in 1900. He was an outstanding poet, writer, playwright and a renowned wit who came to the fore at an early age. Interestingly, the British author was home-schooled until the age of 9, receiving a home-based but cultured education from his parents.

Among his qualities, Oscar Wilde showed interest in the beautician movement, “art for art’s sake” and poetry. Moreover, surely influenced by the philanthropic character of his father, he took a political position for a socialism of anarchist character that cost him more than one displeasure with the authorities.

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Oscar Wilde’s most famous quotes

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

Here are 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 his 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 moment

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 smart that sometimes I don’t understand a word I say

That’s how witty and extravagant the author was.

6. There’s nothing like the love of a married woman. It is something that no husband has the slightest idea about

A sentence to reflect on marriage.

7. If you want to know what a woman really says, look at her, don’t listen to her

The female figure was a popular 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 be soulless.

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

Human beings only learn by making mistakes.

10. Loving yourself is the beginning of a lifelong adventure

To love others, we have to love ourselves first.

11. I’m not gonna stop talking to him just because he’s not listening to me. I like to listen to myself

He was ingenious and exceptional in any situation.

12. We should never get married if we want to stay in love

That’s how Wilde thought about marriage.

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

Each person is a world, and we must all empathize with each other.

14. Questions are never indiscreet, answers are

A sentence for deep reflection.

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

Cynicism is a recurrent theme in many Western writers.

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

A peculiar way to make 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 a temptation is to fall into it

We must not suppress our instincts. If we feel like something, we consume it.

19. A man’s only way to behave with a woman is to make love to her

It seems that Oscar Wilde saw in women little more than a sex object, 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 on the lips of others, but to be on no lips at all

It’s better to criticize than to be ignored.

22. Man believes in the impossible, not the improbable

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

23. We judge others because we don’t dare with ourselves

We should learn to be more self-critical and not focus so much on others.

24. Advising the poor on economy is like advising a hungry person to eat less

Oscar Wilde was a staunch defender 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 for a child is to make him happy

Above and beyond 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 just stupid.

28. Good health does not mean getting up early or playing sports

Oscar Wilde is always so critical of established stereotypes.

29. Men are analyzed, women are loved

Once again it affirms the constant love that women need.

30. Success is taken by the strong and failure by the weak

History is always written by the winners.

31. I would do anything to be young again, except for 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 the pride of doing them

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

33. The less said about life’s sores, 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 start to friendship

Oscar Wilde’s sense of humor was part of his personality and extravagance.

36. Ugly women are jealous of their husbands

A curious way of relating the physical to marital behavior.

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

Interesting contribution to explore new experiences.

39. To be talked about is awful. Not to be talked about, it’s worse

Being ignored is the worst of all evils.

40. A woman who can tell her age, can tell everything

This is how the playwright measured the sincerity of the female sex.

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

This phrase will give much thought to those who make a second commitment.

42. Nothing worth teaching can be taught

This calls for deep thought.

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

Beauty is not something that needs interpretation. Just observation.

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

The British author hated labels, especially those that carry a negative charge.

45. Young people think that money is everything, and when they get older they check it out

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

46. To suffer from one’s own guilt, that is the nightmare of life

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

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

A fun way to reflect on being single.

48. As a bad person, I am a complete disaster

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

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

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

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

It’s a matter of knowing how to take life philosophically.

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

Never think about the bad, but promote the good virtues.

52. Music is the closest thing to tears and memories

Oscar Wilde was a lover of musical art.

53. Temptation is the only thing I cannot contain

Again the author invokes non-containment and emotional repression.

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

This statement must be understood because of the time that Oscar Wilde had to live.

55. The more conservative the ideas, the more revolutionary

The more radical one is, the more changes can be made.

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 yourself, getting married 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 strong emotional burden.

60. Getting natural is the most difficult of the poses

We live conditioned and dogmatized by too many standards.