While Oscar Wilde himself tends to infuriate me, The Importance of Being Earnest had me in stitches. Even when Wilde annoys me he is incredibly quotable, and this play was no exception.

"I do not approve of anything that tampers with natural ignorance. Ignorance is like a delicate exotic fruit; touch it and the bloom is gone. The whole theory of modern education is radically unsound. Fortunately in England, at any rate, education produces no effect whatsoever. If it did, it would prove a serious danger to the upper classes, and probably lead to acts of violence in Grosvenor Square."
Lady Bracknell, Act I

"All women become like their mothers. That is their tragedy. No man does. That's his."
Algernon, Act I

"Oh, I don't think I would care to catch a sensible man. I shouldn't know what to talk to him about."
Cecily, Act II

"The chin a little higher, dear. Style largely depends on the way the chin is worn. They are worn very high, just at present."
Lady Bracknell, Act III

"Gwendolen, it is a terrible thing for a man to find out suddenly that all his life he has been speaking nothing but the truth. Can you forgive me?"
Jack, Act III

As for the play itself, it's the usual satire of late Victorian society obsessed with wealth and status. Jack wants to marry Gwendolyn, only she thinks his name is Earnest and her mother is dissatisfied with Jack's questionably background. Cecily is in love with Jack's brother Earnest whom she's heard so many wonderful stories about. However Earnest is the name Jack uses in the city so that in the country he can maintain his reputation as suitable guardian for Cecily. Jack's friend Algernon has a bit of experience with made up characters as his poor invalid friend Bunbury often requires him to be out of town at the most inopportune times. Somehow Wilde resolves this crazy mess with his signature mix of wit and absurdity.