An Ideal Husband

by Oscar Wilde

Oh, I love London Society! I think it has immensely improved. It is entirely composed now of beautiful idiots and brilliant lunatics. Just what Society should be.

Ah! the strength of women comes from the fact that psychology cannot explain us. Men can be analysed, women . . . merely adored.

And philanthropy seems to me to have become simply the refuge of people who wish to annoy their fellow-creatures.

You see, it is a very dangerous thing to listen. If one listens one may be convinced; and a man who allows himself to be convinced by an argument is a thoroughly unreasonable person.

I always pass on good advice. It is the only thing to do with it. It is never of any use to oneself.

One’s past is what one is. It is the only way by which people should be judged.

Circumstances should never alter principles!

It can never be necessary to do what is not honourable.

I am always saying what I shouldn’t say. In fact, I usually say what I really think. A great mistake nowadays. It makes one so liable to be misunderstood.

It is always worth while asking a question, though it is not always worth while answering one.

spies are of no use nowadays. Their profession is over. The newspapers do their work instead.

if we men married the women we deserved, we should have a very bad time of it.