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.
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.
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.
Show less «
A man cannot be too careful in the choice of his enemies.
A man cannot be too careful in the choice of his enemies.
[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.
Show less «
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.
Show less «
Moderation is a fatal thing... nothing succeeds like excess.
Moderation is a fatal thing... nothing succeeds like excess.
Men can be analyzed, women ... merely adored.
Men can be analyzed, women ... merely adored.
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.
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.
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.
Show less «
Seriousness is the last refuge of the shallow.
Seriousness is the last refuge of the shallow.
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.
Show less «
[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.
Show less «
I couldn't help it. I can resist everything except temptation.
I couldn't help it. I can resist everything except temptation.
I am not young enough to know everything.
I am not young enough to know everything.
The conscience of an editor is purely decorative.
The conscience of an editor is purely decorative.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
Show less «
[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.
Show less «
Man is many things, but he is not rational.
Man is many things, but he is not rational.
Anybody can be good in the country.
Anybody can be good in the country.
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.
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.
Show less «
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.
Show less «
Whenever people agree with me I always feel I must be wrong.
Whenever people agree with me I always feel I must be wrong.
[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!
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
If I can't be famous I'll be notorious.
If I can't be famous I'll be notorious.
In matters of grave importance, style, not sincerity, is the vital thing.
In matters of grave importance, style, not sincerity, is the vital thing.
[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.
Only the shallow know themselves.
Only the shallow know themselves.
Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go.
Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go.
[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.
Show less «
I love acting. It is so much more real than life.
I love acting. It is so much more real than life.
Bernard Shaw has no enemies but is intensely disliked by his friends.
Bernard Shaw has no enemies but is intensely disliked by his friends.
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.
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.
[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.
Show less «
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.
Show less «
[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.
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.
Show less «
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.
Show less «
It is only the shallow people who do not judge by appearance.
It is only the shallow people who do not judge by appearance.
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.
I must decline your invitation owing to a subsequent engagement.
I must decline your invitation owing to a subsequent engagement.
Dying is easy. Comedy is hard.
Dying is easy. Comedy is hard.
