Quotes from An Ideal Husband

Oscar Wilde ·  78 pages

Rating: (32.7K votes)


“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


About the author

Oscar Wilde
Born place: in Dublin, Ireland
Born date October 16, 1854
See more on GoodReads

Popular quotes

“He was saying that the end of the world wasn't an accident; it was a joke.”
― Holly Black, quote from The Coldest Girl in Coldtown


“Stop enjoying yourself," Damen murmured. "We're going to be killed, any minute."
"Giant animal," said Laurent.
"Stop it.”
― C.S. Pacat, quote from Captive Prince: Volume Two


“How could she just leave me here to live without her? I miss her so much. I love her. I want her to grow up and become who she was meant to be. I wanted her to grow up with me.”
― Ava Dellaira, quote from Love Letters to the Dead


“I am a writer. Imagining what someone would say or do comes to me as naturally as breathing.”
― Joan Didion, quote from The Year of Magical Thinking


“The names of virtues, with their precepts, were:
1. Temperance. Eat not do dullness; drink not to elevation.
2. Silence. Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation.
3. Order. Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time.
4. Resolution: Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve.
5. Frugality. Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing.
6. Industry. Lose no time; be always employ’d in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.
7. Sincerity. Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly.
8. Justice. Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty.
9. Moderation. Avoid extreams; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.
10. Cleanliness. Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, cloths, or habitation.
11. Tranquillity. Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.
12. Chastity. Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another’s peace or reputation.
13. Humility. Imitate Jesus and Socrates.”
― Benjamin Franklin, quote from The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin


Interesting books

Natural Law
(3.7K)
Natural Law
by Joey W. Hill
Take This Regret
(22.1K)
Take This Regret
by A.L. Jackson
Frigid
(36.3K)
Frigid
by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Angelmaker
(8.2K)
Angelmaker
by Nick Harkaway
The Science of Getting Rich
(23.5K)
The Science of Getti...
by Wallace D. Wattles
Take Me On
(13.1K)
Take Me On
by Katie McGarry

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.