Miss Prism: And you do not seem to realize, dear Doctor, that by persistently remaining single, a man converts himself into a permanent public temptation. Men should be more careful; this very celibacy leads weaker vessels astray. Chasuble: But is a man not equally attractive when married? Miss Prism: No married man is ever attractive except to his wife. Chasuble: And often, I've been told, not even to her.

The morality of art consists in the perfect use of an imperfect medium.

When I ask for a water cress sandwich, I do not mean a loaf with a field in the middle of it.

Temperament is the primary requisite for the critic - a temperament exquisitely susceptible to beauty, and to the various impressions that beauty gives us.

Every prison that men build Is built with bricks of shame, And bound with bars lest Christ should see How men their brothers maim.

The worst thing to do with success, is to boast about it.

Better the rule of One, whom all obey, than to let clamorous demagogues betray our freedom with the kiss of anarchy.