Oscar Wilde

Birthday: 16 October 1854, Dublin, Ireland, UK [now Republic of Ireland]

Birth Name: Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde

Height: 191 cm

A gifted poet, playwright and wit, Oscar Wilde was a phenomenon in 19th-century England. He was illustrious for preaching the importance of style in life and art, and of attacking Victorian narrow-mindedness.Wilde was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1854. He studied at Trinity College in Dublin before leaving the country to study at Oxford University in England when he was in his early 20s. His prodigious literary talent was recognized when he received the Newdegate Prize for his outstanding poem "Ravenna". After leaving college his first volume of poetry, "Patience", was published in 1881, followed by a play, "The Duchess of Padua", two years later. It was around this time that Wilde sparked a sensation.On his arrival to America he stirred the nation with his flamboyant personality: wearing long silk stockings--an unusual mode of dress--long, flowing hair that gave the impression to many of an effeminate and a general air of wittiness, sophistication and eccentricity. He was an instant celebrity, but his works did not find recognition until the publication of "The Happy Prince and Other Tales" in 1888. His other noted work was his only novel, was "The Picture of Dorian Gray" (1890), which caused controversy as the book evidently attacked the hypocrisy of England. It was later used as incriminating evidence at Wilde's trial, on the basis of its obvious homosexual content.Wilde was a married man with children, but his private life was as a homosexual. He had an affair with a young snobbish aristocrat named Lord Alfred Douglas. Douglas' father, the Marquess of Queensberry, did not approve of his son's relationship with the distinguished writer, and when he accused Wilde of sodomy, Wilde sued the Marquess in court. However, his case was dismissed when his homosexuality--which at the time was outlawed in England--was exposed. He was sentenced to two years hard labor in prison. On his release he was a penniless, dejected man and soon died in Paris. He was 46.Wilde is immortalized through his works, and the stories he wrote for children, such as "The Happy Prince" and "The Selfish Giant", are still vibrant in the imagination of the public, especially "The Picture of Dorian Gray", the story of a young handsome man who sells his soul to a picture to have eternal youth and beauty, only to face the hideousness of his own portrait as it ages, which entails his evil nature and degradation. The book has been interpreted on stage, films and television. In 1997 Stephen Fry played the lead in Wilde (1997) and Jude Law as Lord Alfred Douglas. Hide

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

Seriousness is the last refuge of the shallow. Seriousness is the last refuge of the shallow.

In the old days men had the rack. Now they have the Press. In the old days men had the rack. Now they have the Press.

Women have a wonderful instinct about things. They can discover everything except the obvious. Women have a wonderful instinct about things. They can discover everything except the obvious.

The young are always ready to give to those who are older than themselves the full benefits of their Show more The young are always ready to give to those who are older than themselves the full benefits of their inexperience. Hide

[on Frédéric Chopin] After playing Chopin, I feel as if I had been weeping over sins that I had ne Show more [on Frédéric Chopin] After playing Chopin, I feel as if I had been weeping over sins that I had never committed, and mourning over tragedies that were not my own. Music always seems to me to produce that effect. It creates for one a past of which one has been ignorant, and fills one with a sense of sorrows that have been hidden from one's tears. Hide

[Upon arriving at US Customs in 1882] I have nothing to declare except my genius. [Upon arriving at US Customs in 1882] I have nothing to declare except my genius.

I adore persons better than principles and persons with no principles more than anything else in the Show more I adore persons better than principles and persons with no principles more than anything else in the world. Hide

Imagination is a quality given a man to compensate him for what he is not, and a sense of humor was Show more Imagination is a quality given a man to compensate him for what he is not, and a sense of humor was provided to console him for what he is. Hide

If I can't be famous I'll be notorious. If I can't be famous I'll be notorious.

I must decline your invitation owing to a subsequent engagement. I must decline your invitation owing to a subsequent engagement.

The man who sees both sides of a question is a man who sees absolutely nothing. The man who sees both sides of a question is a man who sees absolutely nothing.

Education is an admirable thing, but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is w Show more Education is an admirable thing, but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is worth knowing can be taught. Hide

In matters of grave importance, style, not sincerity, is the vital thing. In matters of grave importance, style, not sincerity, is the vital thing.

Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone else's opinions, their lives a mimicry, the Show more Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone else's opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation. Hide

[on his room in the Ritz Hotel in Paris] A harsh and ugly light, enough to ruin your eyes, and not a Show more [on his room in the Ritz Hotel in Paris] A harsh and ugly light, enough to ruin your eyes, and not a candle or lamp for bedside reading. And who wants an immovable washing basin in one's room? I do not. Hide the thing. Hide

She wore too much rouge last night and not quite enough clothes. That is always a sign of despair in Show more She wore too much rouge last night and not quite enough clothes. That is always a sign of despair in a woman. Hide

The conscience of an editor is purely decorative. The conscience of an editor is purely decorative.

Young men want to be faithful, and are not; old men want to be faithless, and cannot. Young men want to be faithful, and are not; old men want to be faithless, and cannot.

It is only by not paying one's bills that one can hope to live in the memory of the commercial class Show more It is only by not paying one's bills that one can hope to live in the memory of the commercial classes. Hide

Crying is the refuge of plain women, but the ruin of pretty ones. Crying is the refuge of plain women, but the ruin of pretty ones.

The only difference between the saint and the sinner is that every saint has a past and every sinner Show more The only difference between the saint and the sinner is that every saint has a past and every sinner has a future. Hide

A man cannot be too careful in the choice of his enemies. A man cannot be too careful in the choice of his enemies.

Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go. Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go.

Dying is easy. Comedy is hard. Dying is easy. Comedy is hard.

The public has an insatiable curiosity to know everything, except what is worth knowing. The public has an insatiable curiosity to know everything, except what is worth knowing.

[his defense at his trial] "The Love that dare not speak its name" in this country is such a great a Show more [his defense at his trial] "The Love that dare not speak its name" in this country is such a great affection of an elder for a younger man as there was between David and Jonathan, such as Plato made the very basis of his philosophy, and such as you find in the sonnets of Michelangelo and [William Shakespeare]. It is that deep, spiritual affection that is as pure as it is perfect . . . It is in this century misunderstood, so much misunderstood that it may be described as "the Love that dare not speak its name", and on account of it I am placed where I am now. It is beautiful, it is fine, it is the noblest form of affection. There is nothing unnatural about it, and it repeatedly exists between an elder and a younger man, when the elder has intellect, and the younger man has all the joy, hope and glamor of life before him. That it should be so, the world does not understand. The world mocks at it and sometimes puts one in the pillory for it. Hide

[as he was being led in handcuffs to Reading Gaol] If this is how Her Majesty treats her prisoners, Show more [as he was being led in handcuffs to Reading Gaol] If this is how Her Majesty treats her prisoners, she doesn't deserve to have any. Hide

Women have a much better time than men in this world. There are far more things forbidden to them Women have a much better time than men in this world. There are far more things forbidden to them

We Irish are too poetical to be poets; we are a nation of brilliant failures, but we are the greates Show more We Irish are too poetical to be poets; we are a nation of brilliant failures, but we are the greatest talkers since the Greeks. Hide

[on fellow writer Emile Zola] Mr. Zola is determined to show that, if he has not got genius, he can Show more [on fellow writer Emile Zola] Mr. Zola is determined to show that, if he has not got genius, he can at least be dull. Hide

There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked abo Show more There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about. Hide

Make people laugh when you tell them the truth, or they will kill you. Make people laugh when you tell them the truth, or they will kill you.

We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars. We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.

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

What is a cynic? A man who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing. What is a cynic? A man who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.

Anybody can be good in the country. Anybody can be good in the country.

[on his deathbed in a Paris hotel room] Either this wallpaper goes, or I do! [on his deathbed in a Paris hotel room] Either this wallpaper goes, or I do!

Man is many things, but he is not rational. Man is many things, but he is not rational.

Only the shallow know themselves. Only the shallow know themselves.

It is only the shallow people who do not judge by appearance. It is only the shallow people who do not judge by appearance.

Democracy means simply the bludgeoning of the people by the people for the people. Democracy means simply the bludgeoning of the people by the people for the people.

I couldn't help it. I can resist everything except temptation. I couldn't help it. I can resist everything except temptation.

I love acting. It is so much more real than life. I love acting. It is so much more real than life.

One would have to have a heart of stone to read the death of Little Nell without laughing. One would have to have a heart of stone to read the death of Little Nell without laughing.

Bernard Shaw has no enemies but is intensely disliked by his friends. Bernard Shaw has no enemies but is intensely disliked by his friends.

Moderation is a fatal thing... nothing succeeds like excess. Moderation is a fatal thing... nothing succeeds like excess.

[upon taking a glass of champagne on his deathbed] I am dying beyond my means. [upon taking a glass of champagne on his deathbed] I am dying beyond my means.

I am not young enough to know everything. I am not young enough to know everything.

Men can be analyzed, women ... merely adored. Men can be analyzed, women ... merely adored.

The books that the world calls immoral are the books that show the world its own shame. The books that the world calls immoral are the books that show the world its own shame.

Oscar Wilde's FILMOGRAPHY

as Creator (7)

The Selfish Giant

Salomè [Audio: Italian]

A Woman of No Importance

Dorian Gray

An Ideal Husband

The Importance of Being Earnest

The Picture Of Dorian Gray