Оскар Уайльд. Избранное

Не понимаю, зачем я к ним езжу. Не понимаю, зачем я вообще куда-нибудь езжу.

Люблю театр. Он гораздо более настоящий, чем реальная жизнь.

На войне сильные превращают в рабов слабых, а в мирное время, богатые превращают в рабов бедняков.

When I am in trouble, eating is the only thing that consoles me. Indeed, when I am in really great trouble, as anyone who knows me intimately will tell you, I refuse everything except food and drink. At the present moment I am eating muffins because I am unhappy. Besides, I am particularly fond of muffins.

Gwendolen Five counties! I don’t think I should like that; I hate crowds.
Сecily Sweetly. I suppose that is why you live in town?

Uncle Jack is sending you to Australia.
Algernon Australia! I’d sooner die.
Cecily Well, he said at dinner on Wednesday night, that you would have to choose between this world, the next world, and Australia.

Algernon I hope tomorrow will be a fine day, Lane.
Lane It never is, sir.
Algernon Lane, you’re a perfect pessimist.
Lane I do my best to give satisfaction, sir.

Algernon What shall we do after dinner? Go to a theatre?
Jack Oh no! I loathe listening.
Algernon Well, let us go to the Club?
Jack Oh, no! I hate talking.
Algernon Well, we might trot round to the Empire at ten?
Jack Oh, no! I can’t bear looking at things. It is so silly.
Algernon Well, what shall we do?
Jack Nothing!

To lose one parent, Mr. Worthing, may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both looks like carelessness.

When you do become engaged to someone, I, or your father, should his health permit him, will inform you of the fact. An engagement should come on a young girl as a surprise, pleasant or unpleasant, as the case may be. It is hardly a matter that she could be allowed to arrange for herself …

Literary criticism is not your forte, my dear fellow. Don’t try it. You should leave that to people who haven’t been at a University. They do it so well in the daily papers.

You have always told me it was Ernest. I have introduced you to everyone as Ernest. You answer to the name of Ernest. You look as if your name was Ernest. You are the most earnest-looking person I ever saw in my life. It is perfectly absurd your saying that your name isn’t Ernest. It’s on your cards.

Впрочем, я не могу не питать отвращения к своим родственникам. Полагаю, причина кроется в том, что видеть свои недостатки в других — невыносимо.

Он научит человека переживать во всей полноте каждый мгновение жизни, ведь и сама жизнь есть всего лишь мгновенье 

Как я рад, что ты ничего не создал-ни статуй, ни картин, ничего, кроме себя! Твоим искусством стала жизнь.

— Умеренность — вещь поистине фатальная. Понятие «достаточно» подобно скромной трапезе, а понятие «больше, чем достаточно» — все равно что хороший пир.

<...> хуже разговоров о тебе лишь их отсутствие.