Aphorisms Galore!

Oscar Wilde

Irish poet, novelist and playwright; b. 1854; d. 1900

Aphorisms Attributed to This Aphorist

tiny.ag/e7pa2qtv  ·   Fair (554 ratings)  ·  submitted 1997

Man is a rational animal who always loses his temper when he is called upon to act in accordance with the dictates of reason.

Oscar Wilde, in Science and Religion and Wisdom and Ignorance

tiny.ag/3uxqwbaj  ·   Fair (192 ratings)  ·  submitted 1997

Work is the curse of the drinking classes.

Oscar Wilde, in Work and Recreation

tiny.ag/knyvxbon  ·   Fair (232 ratings)  ·  submitted 1997

Whenever people agree with me I always feel I must be wrong.

Oscar Wilde, in Altruism and Cynicism

tiny.ag/cpyfxowq  ·   Fair (542 ratings)  ·  submitted 1997

There are only two tragedies in life: one is not getting what one wants, the other is getting it.

Oscar Wilde, in Wealth and Poverty

tiny.ag/0fxuodhb  ·   Fair (460 ratings)  ·  submitted 1997

The pure and simple truth is rarely pure and never simple.

Oscar Wilde, in Altruism and Cynicism

tiny.ag/qyfvan9d  ·   Fair (413 ratings)  ·  submitted 1997

The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it.

Oscar Wilde, in Vice and Virtue

tiny.ag/vwaksnik  ·   Fair (453 ratings)  ·  submitted 1997

The only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about.

Oscar Wilde, in Altruism and Cynicism

tiny.ag/fwbjg1wu  ·   Fair (1008 ratings)  ·  submitted 1999

The only thing that men and women have in common, is that they both prefer the company of men.

Oscar Wilde, in Men and Women

tiny.ag/vaj63mlc  ·   Fair (428 ratings)  ·  submitted 1997

The basis of optimism is sheer terror.

Oscar Wilde, in Success and Failure

tiny.ag/e2kqoyj7  ·   Fair (480 ratings)  ·  submitted 1997

Moderation is a fatal thing. Nothing succeeds like excess.

Oscar Wilde, in Success and Failure and Vice and Virtue

tiny.ag/ydvw0j24  ·   Fair (489 ratings)  ·  submitted 1997

Marriage is the triumph of imagination over intelligence. Second marriage is the triumph of hope over experience.

Oscar Wilde, in Love and Hate

tiny.ag/jsphv1u4  ·   Fair (1024 ratings)  ·  submitted 1999

A cynic is one who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.

Oscar Wilde, in Altruism and Cynicism

tiny.ag/u4yrbtrm  ·   Fair (532 ratings)  ·  submitted 1997

In life, we are all in the gutter. Some of us just tend to look up at the stars.

Oscar Wilde, in Happiness and Misery

tiny.ag/dflvnw5h  ·   Fair (438 ratings)  ·  submitted 1997

I was asked by the customs if I had anything to declare. I said: Yes, I'd like to declare -- I'm a genius!

Oscar Wilde, in Wisdom and Ignorance

tiny.ag/uy8bic2x  ·   Fair (485 ratings)  ·  submitted 1997

I think that God in creating man somewhat overestimated his ability.

Oscar Wilde, in Science and Religion

tiny.ag/cjkab7en  ·   Fair (466 ratings)  ·  submitted 1997

I can resist everything except temptation.

Oscar Wilde, in Altruism and Cynicism and Vice and Virtue

tiny.ag/8dhiywlp  ·   Fair (458 ratings)  ·  submitted 1997

I am not young enough to know everything.

Oscar Wilde, in Wisdom and Ignorance

tiny.ag/8tw9d5gh  ·   Fair (1013 ratings)  ·  submitted 1999 by E. Lechner

Either those curtains go or I do.

Oscar Wilde, (last words), in Life and Death

tiny.ag/1bm5oz9e  ·   Fair (461 ratings)  ·  submitted 1997

Education is an admirable thing, but nothing that is worth knowing can be taught.

Oscar Wilde, in Wisdom and Ignorance

tiny.ag/cstcsf2k  ·   Fair (480 ratings)  ·  submitted 1997

Bigamy is having one wife too many. Monogamy is the same.

Oscar Wilde, in Love and Hate