The Importance of Being Earnest - Oscar Wilde

If you are not too long, I will wait here for you all my life.

My dear fellow, the truth isn't quite the sort of thing one tells to a nice, sweet, refined girl. What extraordinary ideas you have about the way to behave to a woman!

It is very romantic to be in love. But there is nothing romantic about a definite proposal. Why, one may be accepted. One usually is, I believe. Then the excitement is all over. The very essence of romance is uncertainty.

I hadn't been there since her poor husband's death. I never saw a woman so altered; she looks quite twenty years younger.

I never travel without my diary. One should always have something sensational to read in the train.

I am sick to death of cleverness. Everybody is clever nowadays. You can't go anywhere without meeting clever people.
The thing has become an absolute public nuisance. I wish to goodness we had a few fools left.

The truth is rarely pure and never simple. Modern life would be very tedious if it were either, and modern literature a complete impossibility!

What seem to us bitter trials are often blessings in disguise.

Fortunately in England, at any rate, education produces no effect whatsoever.

"I hope to-morrow will be a fine day, Lane.".
"It never is, sir."
"Lane, you're a perfect pessimist."
"I do my best to give satisfaction, sir."

It is always painful to part from people whom one has known for a very brief space of time. The absence of old friends one can endure with equanimity. But even a momentary separation from anyone to whom one has just been introduced is almost unbearable.

"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?"
"I can. For I feel that you are sure to change."

"Do you know it is nearly seven?"
"Oh! It always is nearly seven."
"Well, I'm hungry."

"I'm glad to hear thar you smoke. A man should always have an occupation of some kind. There are far too many idle men in London as it is."

"Cecily and Gwendolen are perfectly certain to be extremely great friends. I'll bet you anything you like that half an hour after they have met, they will be calling each other sister."
"Women only do that when they have called each other a lot of other things first."

All women become like their mothers. That is their tragedy. No man does. That's his.