The basis of optimism is sheer terror.

What are American dry-goods? asked the duchess, raising her large hands in wonder and accentuating the verb. American novels, answered Lord Henry.

"There is no such thing as a good influence, Mr. Gray. All influence is immoral — immoral from the scientific point of view." "Why?" "Because to influence a person is to give him one's own soul."

The only way to get rid of temptation is to yield to it... I can resist everything but temptation.

A map of the world that does not include Utopia is not worth even glancing at, for it leaves out the one country at which Humanity is always landing. And when Humanity lands there, it looks out, and, seeing a better country, sets sail. Progress is the realisation of Utopias.

The only way to even approach doing something perfectly is through experience, and experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes.

There is no doubt that genius lasts longer than beauty.