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I have said to you to speak the truth is a painful thing. To be forced to tell lies is much worse.

Oscar Wilde

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Oscar Wilde
Age: 46 †
Born: 1854
Born: October 16
Died: 1900
Died: November 30
Author
Essayist
Journalist
Novelist
Opinion Journalist
Playwright
Poet
Prosaist
Short Story Writer
Writer
Dublin city
Oscar O'Flahertie Wills Wilde
Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde
Lying
Speak
Tell
Truth
Dishonesty
Thing
Forced
Much
Painful
Worse
Lies

More quotes by Oscar Wilde

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We have been able to have fine poetry in England because the public do not read it, and consequently do not influence it. The public like to insult poets because they are individual, but once they have insulted them, they leave them alone.
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Nobody of any real culture, for instance, ever talks nowadays about the beauty of sunset. Sunsets are quite old fashioned. To admire them is a distinct sign of provincialism of temperament. Upon the other hand they go on.
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Perhaps, after all, America never has been discovered. I myself would say that it had merely been detected.
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The sign of a Philistine age is the cry of immorality against art.
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A mutual misunderstanding.
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I always pass on good advice. It is the only thing to do with it. It is never of any use to oneself.
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The well bred contradict other people. The wise contradict themselves.
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Those who see any difference between soul and body have neither
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I can't stand people that do not take food seriously.
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I write because it gives me the greatest possible artistic pleasure to write. If my work pleases the few I am gratified. As for the mob, I have no desire to be a popular novelist. It is far too easy.
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As one knows the poet by his fine music, so one can recognize the liar by his rich rhythmic utterance, and in neither case will the casual inspiration of the moment suffice. Here, as elsewhere, practice must precede perfection.
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Life is far too important a thing ever to talk seriously about.
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Every prison that men build Is built with bricks of shame, And bound with bars lest Christ should see How men their brothers maim.
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Behind every exquisite thing that existed, there was something tragic.
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Veil after veil of thin dusky gauze is lifted, and by degrees the forms and colours of things are restored to them, and we watch the dawn remaking the world in its antique pattern.
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There can be nothing more frequent than an occasional drink.
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One must have some sort of occupation nowadays. If I hadn't my debts I shouldn't have anything to think about.
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The 19thc hatred of Realism is Caliban's enraged reaction to seeing his own face in the mirror. The 19thc rejection of Romanticism is Caliban's fury at not seeing his face reflected in the mirror.
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Other people are quite dreadful. The only possible society is oneself.
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To be popular one must be a mediocrity. Not with Women, said the duchess, shaking her head and women rule the world. I assure you we can't bear mediocrities. We women, as someone says, love with our ears, just as you men love with your eyes, if you ever love at all. It seems to me that we never do anything else, murmered Dorian.
Oscar Wilde