Our ambition should be to rule ourselves, the true kingdom for each one of us; and true progress is to know more, and be more, and to do more.

The Ideal Man should talk to us as if we were goddesses, and treat us as if we were children. He should refuse all our serious requests, and gratify every one of our whims. He should encourage us to have caprices, and forbid us to have missions. He should always say much more than he means, and always mean much more than he says.

The heart was made to be broken.

It is a great mistake for men to give up paying compliments, for when they give up saying what is charming, they give up thinking what is charming.

In war, the strong make slaves of the weak, and in peace the rich makes slaves of the poor.

Oh, no doubt the cod is a splendid swimmer - admirable for swimming purposes but not for eating.

The only thing in the world worse than being Oscar Wilde is not being Oscar Wilde.