Quotes from The Nightingale and the Rose

Oscar Wilde ·  12 pages

Rating: (5.5K votes)


“Be happy, cried the Nightingale, be happy; you shall have your red rose. I will build it out of music by moonlight, and stain it with my own heart's-blood. All that I ask of you in return is that you will be a true lover, for Love is wiser than Philosophy, though she is wise, and mightier than Power, though he is mighty. Flame-coloured are his wings, and coloured like flame is his body. His lips are sweet as honey, and his breath is like frankincense.”
― Oscar Wilde, quote from The Nightingale and the Rose


“The moon in her chariot of pearl”
― Oscar Wilde, quote from The Nightingale and the Rose


“Ah, on what little things does happiness depend! I have read all that the wise men have written, and all the secrets of philosophy are mine, yet for want of a red rose is my life made wretched.”
― Oscar Wilde, quote from The Nightingale and the Rose


“She has form," he said to himself, as he walked away through the grove - "that cannot be denied to her; but has she got feeling? I am afraid not. In fact, she is like most artists; she is all style, without any sincerity. She would not sacrifice herself for others. She thinks merely of music, and everybody knows that arts are selfish. Still, it must be admitted that she has some beautiful notes in her voice. What a pity it is that they do not mean anything, or do any practical good.”
― Oscar Wilde, quote from The Nightingale and the Rose


“Then she gave one last burst of music. The white Moon heard it, and she forgot the dawn, and lingered on in the sky. The red rose heard it, and it trembled all over with ecstasy, and opened its petals to the cold morning air. Echo bore it to her purple cavern in the hills, and woke the sleeping shepherds from their dreams. It floated through the reeds of the river, and they carried its message to the sea.”
― Oscar Wilde, quote from The Nightingale and the Rose



“What a silly thing Love is. It is not as useful as Logic, for it does not prove anything, and it is always telling one of things that are not going to happen, and making one believe things that are not true. In fact, it is quite unpractical, and, as in this age to be practical is everything, I shall go back to Philosophy and study Metaphysics.”
― Oscar Wilde, quote from The Nightingale and the Rose


“What a silly thing Love is," said the Student as he walked away. "It is not half as useful as Logic, for it does not prove anything, and it is always telling one of things that are not going to happen, and making one believe things that are not true. In fact, it is quite unpractical, and, as in this age to be practical is everything, I shall go back to Philosophy and study Metaphysics.”
― Oscar Wilde, quote from The Nightingale and the Rose


“pata de la paloma; y más rojas que los hermosos”
― Oscar Wilde, quote from The Nightingale and the Rose


“––“Llora por una rosa roja” ––dijo el ruiseñor.”
― Oscar Wilde, quote from The Nightingale and the Rose


“Entonces el ruiseñor voló sobre el rosal que crecía alrededor del reloj de sol.”
― Oscar Wilde, quote from The Nightingale and the Rose



About the author

Oscar Wilde
Born place: in Dublin, Ireland
Born date October 16, 1854
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