The public is wonderfully tolerant. It forgives everything except genius.

I want to be good. I can't bear the idea of my soul being hideous.

LORD ILLINGWORTH What do you think she'd do if I kissed her? MRS ALLONBY Either marry you, or strike you across the face with her glove. What would you do if she struck you across the face with her glove? LORD ILLINGWORTH Fall in love with her, probably.

Consistency is the last refuge of the unimagininative.

All authority is quite degrading. It degrades those who exercise it, and it degrades those over whom it is exercised.

If a man needs an elaborate tombstone in order to remain in the memory of his country, it is clear that his living at all was an act of absolute superfluity.

After a good dinner one can forgive anybody, even one's own relations.