I have never met any really wicked person before. I feel rather frightened. I am so afraid he will look just like every one else.

Civilization is not by means an easy thing to attain to. There are only two ways by which man can reach it. One is by being cultured, the other by being corrupt.

I am afraid that woman appreciate cruelty, downright cruelty, more than anything else. They have wonderfully primitive instincts. We have emancipated them, but they remain slaves looking for their masters, all the same. They love being dominated.

Cecily. This is no time for wearing the shallow mask of manners. When I see a spade I call it a spade. Gwendolen. [Satirically.] I am glad to say that I have never seen a spade. It is obvious that our social spheres have been widely different.

It is a vulgar error to suppose that America was ever discovered. It was merely detected.

My philosophy? I'm always right and you are wrong.

I am jealous of everything whose beauty does not die.