In fact, now you mention the subject, I have been very bad in my own small way. I don't think you should be so proud of that, though I am sure it must have been very pleasant.

It is the confession, not the priest, that gives us absolution.

Conscience and cowardice are really the same things, Basil. Conscience is the trade-name of the firm. That is all.

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.

To speak frankly, I am not in favour of long engagements. They give people the opportunity of finding out each other's character before marriage, which I think is never advisable.

Each of us has heaven and hell in him.

The criminal classes are so close to us that even the policemen can see them.