Quotes from An Ideal Husband

“To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance.”
― Oscar Wilde, quote from An Ideal Husband

“Morality is simply the attitude we adopt towards people we personally dislike.”
― Oscar Wilde, quote from An Ideal Husband

“I always pass on good advice. It is the only thing to do with it. It is never of any use to oneself.”
― Oscar Wilde, quote from An Ideal Husband

“It takes great deal of courage to see the world in all its tainted glory, and still to love it.”
― Oscar Wilde, quote from An Ideal Husband

“When the Gods wish to punish us, they answer our prayers.”
― Oscar Wilde, quote from An Ideal Husband

“Ah! The strength of women comes from the fact that psychology cannot explain us. Men can be analyzed, women...merely adored.”
― Oscar Wilde, quote from An Ideal Husband

“It takes great courage to see the world in all its tainted glory, and still to love it. And even more courage to see it in the one you love”
― Oscar Wilde, quote from An Ideal Husband

“The error all women commit. Why can’t you women love us, faults
and all? Why do you place us on monstrous pedestals? We have all feet of
clay, women as well as men; but when we men love women, we love them
knowing their weaknesses, their follies, their imperfections, love them all
the more, it may be, for that reason. It is not the perfect, but the imperfect,
who have need of love. It is when we are wounded by our own hands,
or by the hands of others, that love should come to cure us – else what use
is love at all? All sins, except a sin against itself, Love should forgive. All
lives, save loveless lives, true Love should pardon. A man’s love is like that.
It is wider, larger, more human than a woman’s. Women think that they
are making ideals of men. What they are making of us are false idols
merely. You made your false idol of me, and I had not the courage to
come down, show you my wounds, tell you my weaknesses. I was afraid
that I might lose your love, as I have lost it now.”
― Oscar Wilde, quote from An Ideal Husband

“I analyzed you, though you did not adore me.”
― Oscar Wilde, quote from An Ideal Husband

“Other people are quite dreadful. The only possible society is oneself.”
― Oscar Wilde, quote from An Ideal Husband

“To expect the unexpected shows a thoroughly modern intellect.”
― Oscar Wilde, quote from An Ideal Husband

“Women have a wonderful instinct about things. They can discover everything except the obvious.”
― Oscar Wilde, quote from An Ideal Husband

“Fashion is what one wears oneself. What is unfashionable is what other people wear.
Just as vulgarity is simply the conduct of other people.
And falsehoods the truths of other people.
Other people are quite dreadful. The only possible society is oneself.
To love oneself is the beginning of a life-long romance.”
― Oscar Wilde, quote from An Ideal Husband

“Questions are never indiscreet. Answers sometimes are.”
― Oscar Wilde, quote from An Ideal Husband

“this woman is a genius in the day time and a beauty at night”
― Oscar Wilde, quote from An Ideal Husband

“If people are dishonest once, they will be dishonest a second time. And honest people should keep away from them. (Lady Chiltern)”
― Oscar Wilde, quote from An Ideal Husband

“All sins, except a sin against itself, Love should forgive. All lives, save loveless lives, true Love should pardon.”
― Oscar Wilde, quote from An Ideal Husband

“You silly Arthur! If you knew anything about...anything, which you don't, you would know that I adore you. Everyone in London knows it except you. It is a public scandal the way I adore you. I have been going about for the last six months telling the whole of society that I adore you. I wonder you consent to have anything to say to me. I have no character left at all. At least, I feel so happy that I am quite sure I have no character left at all.”
― Oscar Wilde, quote from An Ideal Husband

“The world seemed to me fine because you were in it, and goodness more real because you lived.”
― Oscar Wilde, quote from An Ideal Husband

“Never mind what I say. I am always saying what I shouldn't say. In fact, I usually say what I really think. A great mistake nowadays. It makes one so liable to be misunderstood.”
― Oscar Wilde, quote from An Ideal Husband

“You are Beautiful when you are happy”
― Oscar Wilde, quote from An Ideal Husband

“In the old days men had the rack. Now they have the Press.”
― Oscar Wilde, quote from An Ideal Husband

“He is fond of being misunderstood. It gives him a post of vantage.”
― Oscar Wilde, quote from An Ideal Husband

“Even you are not rich enough, Sir Robert, to buy back your past. No man is”
― Oscar Wilde, quote from An Ideal Husband

“You have never been poor, and never known what ambition is.”
― Oscar Wilde, quote from An Ideal Husband

“I like looking at geniuses and listening to beautiful people.”
― Oscar Wilde, quote from An Ideal Husband

“Only dull people are brilliant at breakfast”
― Oscar Wilde, quote from An Ideal Husband

“Then I am sorry I did not stay away longer I like being missed.”
― Oscar Wilde, quote from An Ideal Husband

“It can never be necessary to do what is not honourable.”
― Oscar Wilde, quote from An Ideal Husband

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Popular quotes

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“No one should be alone in their old age, he thought.”
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“Out of my thoughts! You are part of my existence, part of myself. You have been in every line I have ever read, since I first came here, the rough common boy whose poor heart you wounded even then. You have been in every prospect I have ever seen since – on the river, on the sails of the ships, on the marshes, in the clouds, in the light, in the darkness, in the wind, in the woods, in the sea, in the streets. You have been the embodiment of every graceful fancy that my mind has ever become acquainted with. The stones of which the strongest London buildings are made, are not more real, or more impossible to displace with your hands, than your presence and influence have been to me, there and everywhere, and will be. Estella, to the last hour of my life, you cannot choose but remain part of my character, part of the little good in me, part of the evil. But, in this separation I associate you only with the good, and I will faithfully hold you to that always, for you must have done me far more good than harm, let me feel now what sharp distress I may. O God bless you, God forgive you!”
― Charles Dickens, quote from Great Expectations

“It is amazing to me, now, how such wild imaginings and philosophies - inspired by a night charged with frights and calamities - made such perfectly good sense to Owen Meany and me, but good friends are nothing to each other if they are not supportive.”
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About BookQuoters

BookQuoters is a community of passionate readers who enjoy sharing the most meaningful, memorable and interesting quotes from great books. As the world communicates more and more via texts, memes and sound bytes, short but profound quotes from books have become more relevant and important. For some of us a quote becomes a mantra, a goal or a philosophy by which we live. For all of us, quotes are a great way to remember a book and to carry with us the author’s best ideas.

We thoughtfully gather quotes from our favorite books, both classic and current, and choose the ones that are most thought-provoking. Each quote represents a book that is interesting, well written and has potential to enhance the reader’s life. We also accept submissions from our visitors and will select the quotes we feel are most appealing to the BookQuoters community.

Founded in 2023, BookQuoters has quickly become a large and vibrant community of people who share an affinity for books. Books are seen by some as a throwback to a previous world; conversely, gleaning the main ideas of a book via a quote or a quick summary is typical of the Information Age but is a habit disdained by some diehard readers. We feel that we have the best of both worlds at BookQuoters; we read books cover-to-cover but offer you some of the highlights. We hope you’ll join us.