--- title: "10 Known Quotes By Oscar Wilde" description: "10 Known quotes by Oscar Wilde. Plus more from Oscar Wilde and more Known sayings from other authors." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2e/oscar-wilde-16_humanity_it-is-because-humanity-has-never-known-w_2301475.jpg" --- > [“It is because Humanity has never known where it was going that it has never been able to find its way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/it-is-because-humanity-has-never-known-where-it-was-going-that-it-has-2/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2e/oscar-wilde-16_humanity_it-is-because-humanity-has-never-known-w_2301475.jpg) > [The true artist is known by what he annexes, and he annexes everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-true-artist-is-known-by-what-he-annexes-and-he-annexes-everything/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe9/oscar-wilde-16_art_the-true-artist-is-known-by-what-he-anne_2329949.jpg) > [You have never been poor, and never known what ambition is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/you-have-never-been-poor-and-never-known-what-ambition-is/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/043/oscar-wilde-16_ambition_you-have-never-been-poor-and-never-known_1916571.jpg) > [Art is the most intense mode of individualism that the world has known.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/art-is-the-most-intense-mode-of-individualism-that-the-world-has-known/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59a/oscar-wilde-16_art_art-is-the-most-intense-mode-of-individu_2910108.jpg) > [It is only the unimaginative who ever invents. The true artist is known by the use he makes of what he annexes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/it-is-only-the-unimaginative-who-ever-invents-the-true-artist-is/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2c/oscar-wilde-16_art_it-is-only-the-unimaginative-who-ever-in_1843258.jpg) > [Lawyers have been known to wrest from reluctant juries triumphant verdicts of acquittal for their clients, even when those clients, as often…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/lawyers-have-been-known-to-wrest-from-reluctant-juries-triumphant/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4aa/oscar-wilde-16_acquittal_lawyers-have-been-known-to-wrest-from-re_1223939.jpg) > [The history of women is the history of the worst form of tyranny the world has ever known. The tyranny of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-history-of-women-is-the-history-of-the-worst-form-of-tyranny-the/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbd/oscar-wilde-16_form_the-history-of-women-is-the-history-of-t_642144.jpg) > [The sick do not ask if the hand that smoothes their pillow is pure, nor the dying care if the lips that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-sick-do-not-ask-if-the-hand-that-smoothes-their-pillow-is-pure/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc2/oscar-wilde-16_asks_the-sick-do-not-ask-if-the-hand-that-smo_2945140.jpg) > [A work of art is the unique result of a unique temperament. Its beauty comes from the fact that the author is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/a-work-of-art-is-the-unique-result-of-a-unique-temperament-its-beauty/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a26/oscar-wilde-16_art_a-work-of-art-is-the-unique-result-of-a_627105.jpg) > [There were times when it appeared to Dorian Gray that the whole of history was merely the record of his own life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/there-were-times-when-it-appeared-to-dorian-gray-that-the-whole-of/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a92/oscar-wilde-16_brain_there-were-times-when-it-appeared-to-dor_2016068.jpg) ## Other authors on Known ## More by Oscar Wilde > [How else but through a broken heart may Lord Christ enter in?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/how-else-but-through-a-broken-heart-may-lord-christ-enter-in/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [The books that the world calls immoral are the books that show the world its own shame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-books-that-the-world-calls-immoral-are-the-books-that-show-the/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Bachelors should be heavily taxed. It is not fair that some men should be happier than others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/bachelors-should-be-heavily-taxed-it-is-not-fair-that-some-men-should/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Who, being loved, is poor?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/who-being-loved-is-poor/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Basil my dear boy puts everything that is charming in him into his work. The consequence is that he has nothing left for life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/basil-my-dear-boy-puts-everything-that-is-charming-in-him-into-his/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Anybody can be good in the country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/anybody-can-be-good-in-the-country/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [I don't at all like knowing what people say of me behind my back. It makes me far too conceited.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/i-don-t-at-all-like-knowing-what-people-say-of-me-behind-my-back-it/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Alles Populäre ist falsch.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/alles-popul-re-ist-falsch/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“If these elements of beauty are real, the whole thing simply appeals to our sense of dramatic effect. Suddenly we find that we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/if-these-elements-of-beauty-are-real-the-whole-thing-simply-appeals/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [To love one's self is the beginning of a life-long romance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/to-love-one-s-self-is-the-beginning-of-a-life-long-romance/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Those who find beautiful meanings in beautiful things are the cultivated. For these there is hope.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/those-who-find-beautiful-meanings-in-beautiful-things-are-the/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Men always want to be a womans first love. Women have a more subtle instinct: What they like is to be a mans last…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/men-always-want-to-be-a-womans-first-love-women-have-a-more-subtle/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Why is it that at a bachelor's establishment the servants invariably drink the champagne.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/why-is-it-that-at-a-bachelor-s-establishment-the-servants-invariably/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Moderation is a fatal thing. Enough is as bad as a meal. More than enough is as good as a feast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/moderation-is-a-fatal-thing-enough-is-as-bad-as-a-meal-more-than/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Beauty is the only thing that time cannot harm. Philosophies fall away like sand, creeds follow one another, but what is beautiful is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/beauty-is-the-only-thing-that-time-cannot-harm-philosophies-fall-away/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "ItemList", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/known/oscar-wilde/#itemlist", "name": "10 Known Quotes By Oscar Wilde", "numberOfItems": 10, "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It is because Humanity has never known where it was going that it has never been able to find its way.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Oscar Wilde" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/it-is-because-humanity-has-never-known-where-it-was-going-that-it-has-2/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2e/oscar-wilde-16_humanity_it-is-because-humanity-has-never-known-w_2301475.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2e/oscar-wilde-16_humanity_it-is-because-humanity-has-never-known-w_2301475.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2e/oscar-wilde-16_humanity_it-is-because-humanity-has-never-known-w_2301475.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is because Humanity has never known where it was going that it has never been able to find its way.” — Oscar Wilde", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The true artist is known by what he annexes, and he annexes everything.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Oscar Wilde" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-true-artist-is-known-by-what-he-annexes-and-he-annexes-everything/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe9/oscar-wilde-16_art_the-true-artist-is-known-by-what-he-anne_2329949.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe9/oscar-wilde-16_art_the-true-artist-is-known-by-what-he-anne_2329949.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe9/oscar-wilde-16_art_the-true-artist-is-known-by-what-he-anne_2329949.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The true artist is known by what he annexes, and he annexes everything.” — Oscar Wilde", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You have never been poor, and never known what ambition is.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Oscar Wilde" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/you-have-never-been-poor-and-never-known-what-ambition-is/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/043/oscar-wilde-16_ambition_you-have-never-been-poor-and-never-known_1916571.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/043/oscar-wilde-16_ambition_you-have-never-been-poor-and-never-known_1916571.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/043/oscar-wilde-16_ambition_you-have-never-been-poor-and-never-known_1916571.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You have never been poor, and never known what ambition is.” — Oscar Wilde", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Art is the most intense mode of individualism that the world has known.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Oscar Wilde" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/art-is-the-most-intense-mode-of-individualism-that-the-world-has-known/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59a/oscar-wilde-16_art_art-is-the-most-intense-mode-of-individu_2910108.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59a/oscar-wilde-16_art_art-is-the-most-intense-mode-of-individu_2910108.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59a/oscar-wilde-16_art_art-is-the-most-intense-mode-of-individu_2910108.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Art is the most intense mode of individualism that the world has known.” — Oscar Wilde", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 5, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is only the unimaginative who ever invents. 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The tyranny of the weak over the strong. It is the only tyranny that lasts.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Oscar Wilde" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-history-of-women-is-the-history-of-the-worst-form-of-tyranny-the/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbd/oscar-wilde-16_form_the-history-of-women-is-the-history-of-t_642144.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbd/oscar-wilde-16_form_the-history-of-women-is-the-history-of-t_642144.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbd/oscar-wilde-16_form_the-history-of-women-is-the-history-of-t_642144.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The history of women is the history of the worst form of tyranny the world has ever known. 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Its beauty comes from the fact that the author is what he is. ...Art is the most intense mode of Individualism that the world has known. I am inclined to say that it is the only real mode of Individualism that the world has known. ...Art is Individualism...", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Oscar Wilde" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/a-work-of-art-is-the-unique-result-of-a-unique-temperament-its-beauty/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a26/oscar-wilde-16_art_a-work-of-art-is-the-unique-result-of-a_627105.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a26/oscar-wilde-16_art_a-work-of-art-is-the-unique-result-of-a_627105.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a26/oscar-wilde-16_art_a-work-of-art-is-the-unique-result-of-a_627105.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A work of art is the unique result of a unique temperament. 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