--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Basil Hallward is what I think I am: Lord…" description: "\"“Basil Hallward is what I think I am: Lord Henry what the world thinks me: Dorian what I would like to be—in other ages, perhaps.”\" — Oscar Wilde" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea2/oscar-wilde-16_dorian_basil-hallward-is-what-i-think-i-am-lord_685162.jpg" --- # Basil Hallward is what I think I am: Lord Henry what the… ![“Basil Hallward is what I think I am: Lord Henry what the world thinks me: Dorian what I would like to be—in other ages, perhaps.” quote by Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea2/oscar-wilde-16_dorian_basil-hallward-is-what-i-think-i-am-lord_685162.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea2/oscar-wilde-16_dorian_basil-hallward-is-what-i-think-i-am-lord_685162.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea2/oscar-wilde-16_dorian_basil-hallward-is-what-i-think-i-am-lord_685162.jpg) > ““Basil Hallward is what I think I am: Lord Henry what the world thinks me: Dorian what I would like to be—in other ages, perhaps.”” [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Characters reflect each other's identities, showing how self-perception and external perception shape who we become. **In simple terms:** People see themselves through others' eyes. Key Takeaway Recognize how others influence your self‑image. Themes identity perception self literature Mood introspective thoughtful Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - social interactions - personal growth - artistic creation - self‑reflection Key Concepts philosophical psychology character analysis Questions to Reflect On - Do you let others define you? - How can you assert your true self? A Different Perspective Self‑image can be distorted by others' expectations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Lord henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lord-henry/) ## Related quotes > [“Lord Henry looked at him. Yes, he was certainly wonderfully handsome, with his finely curved scarlet lips, his frank blue eyes, his crisp gold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/lord-henry-looked-at-him-yes-he-was-certainly-wonderfully-handsome/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“By the way, Dorian, he (Lord Henry) said, after a pause, what does it profit a man if he gain the whole world and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/by-the-way-dorian-he-lord-henry-said-after-a-pause-what-does-it/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Lord Henry went out to the garden and found Dorian Gray burying his face in the great cool lilac-blossoms, feverishly drinking in their perfume…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/lord-henry-went-out-to-the-garden-and-found-dorian-gray-burying-his/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“I don't think I am heartless. Do you?' 'You have done too many foolish things during the last fortnight to be entitled to give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/i-don-t-think-i-am-heartless-do-you-you-have-done-too-many-foolish/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Life has everything in store for you, Dorian. There is nothing that you, with your extraordinary good looks, will not be able to do."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/life-has-everything-in-store-for-you-dorian-there-is-nothing-that-you/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Sin is the only real colour-element left in modern life.' 'You really must not say things like that before Dorian, Harry.' 'Before which Dorian?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/sin-is-the-only-real-colour-element-left-in-modern-life-you-really/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“The sense of his own beauty came on him like a revelation. He had never felt it before. Basil Hallward’s compliments”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-sense-of-his-own-beauty-came-on-him-like-a-revelation-he-had/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“In the centre of the room, clamped to an upright easel, stood the full-length portrait of a young man of extraordinary personal beauty, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/in-the-centre-of-the-room-clamped-to-an-upright-easel-stood-the-full/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Women are wonderfully practical,' murmured Lord Henry, 'much more practical than we are. In situations of that kind we often forget to say anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/women-are-wonderfully-practical-murmured-lord-henry-much-more/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“The wind shook some blossoms from the trees, and the heavy lilac blooms, with their clustering stars, moved to and fro in the languid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-wind-shook-some-blossoms-from-the-trees-and-the-heavy-lilac/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Lord Henry smiled. People are very fond of giving away what they need most themselves. It is what I call the depth of generosity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/lord-henry-smiled-people-are-very-fond-of-giving-away-what-they-need/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Marriage is hardly a thing that one can do now and then, Harry. Except in America, rejoined Lord Henry, languidly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/marriage-is-hardly-a-thing-that-one-can-do-now-and-then-harry-except/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“I suppose you have heard the news, Basil?" said Lord Henry that evening as Hallward was shown into a little private room at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/i-suppose-you-have-heard-the-news-basil-said-lord-henry-that-evening/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“We can have in life but one great experience at best, and the secret of life is to reproduce that experience as often as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/we-can-have-in-life-but-one-great-experience-at-best-and-the-secret/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Lord Henry looked serious for some moments, 'It is perfectly monstrous,' he said at last, 'the way people go about nowadays saying things against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/lord-henry-looked-serious-for-some-moments-it-is-perfectly-monstrous/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) ## 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/) [Explore all 3,343 Oscar Wilde quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) ## More Dorian quotes > [“Fine, she wouldn't mind if Kaltain and Perrington met horrible deaths, but Dorian would be there. And Chaol.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-mass/fine-she-wouldn-t-mind-if-kaltain-and-perrington-met-horrible-deaths/) [Sarah J. Mass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-mass/) > [“By the way, Dorian, he (Lord Henry) said, after a pause, what does it profit a man if he gain the whole world and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/by-the-way-dorian-he-lord-henry-said-after-a-pause-what-does-it/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“A strange sense of loss came over him. He felt that Dorian Gray would never again be to him all that he had been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/a-strange-sense-of-loss-came-over-him-he-felt-that-dorian-gray-would/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Sin is the only real colour-element left in modern life.' 'You really must not say things like that before Dorian, Harry.' 'Before which Dorian?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/sin-is-the-only-real-colour-element-left-in-modern-life-you-really/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Dorian Gray listened, open-eyed and wondering. The spray of lilac fell from his hand upon the gravel. A furry bee came and buzzed round…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/dorian-gray-listened-open-eyed-and-wondering-the-spray-of-lilac-fell/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Dorian grunted, staring out at the forest. "Where's Sascha?" "In the aerie." "You left her alone?" "As my mate would say- she's a cardinal,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nalini-singh/dorian-grunted-staring-out-at-the-forest-where-s-sascha-in-the-aerie/) [Nalini Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nalini-singh/) > [“people who only love once in their lives are really shallow people. What they call their loyalty, and their fidelity, I call either the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/people-who-only-love-once-in-their-lives-are-really-shallow-people/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Dorian didn’t bother saying anything to anyone and just stared at the glass pitcher of water before him. Celaena hadn’t seemed like herself just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/dorian-didn-t-bother-saying-anything-to-anyone-and-just-stared-at-the/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Nicioadata nu aprob sau dezaprob un lucru, e o atitudine absurda fata de viata. Nu suntem trimisi in lume ca sa ne exibitionam prejudecatile…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/nicioadata-nu-aprob-sau-dezaprob-un-lucru-e-o-atitudine-absurda-fata/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [The longer I live, Dorian, the more keenly I feel that whatever was good enough for our fathers is not good enough for us.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-longer-i-live-dorian-the-more-keenly-i-feel-that-whatever-was/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Aedion didn’t bother talking to him, too preoccupied with humming bawdy tunes and inspecting the various women they passed. He’d dropped the half-civilized veneer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/aedion-didn-t-bother-talking-to-him-too-preoccupied-with-humming/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“He gripped the back of the sofa as though physically restraining himself. "You're a liar. You've always been a liar. And today was no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/he-gripped-the-back-of-the-sofa-as-though-physically-restraining/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“She touched his arm. “If you need anything, send word. It’ll be a few weeks before we reach Orynth, but—I suppose with magic returned,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/she-touched-his-arm-if-you-need-anything-send-word-it-ll-be-a-few/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Oath-breaker. Liar. Traitor. Chaol was all of those things now, but not to Dorian. Never to his true king. “Take out the clock tower…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/oath-breaker-liar-traitor-chaol-was-all-of-those-things-now-but-not/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Dorian Gray had been poisoned by a book.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/dorian-gray-had-been-poisoned-by-a-book/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) Browse all 151 Dorian quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Basil Hallward is what I think I am: Lord Henry what the world thinks me: Dorian what I would like to be—in other ages, perhaps.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Oscar Wilde" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/basil-hallward-is-what-i-think-i-am-lord-henry-what-the-world-thinks/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dorian" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/basil-hallward-is-what-i-think-i-am-lord-henry-what-the-world-thinks/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea2/oscar-wilde-16_dorian_basil-hallward-is-what-i-think-i-am-lord_685162.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea2/oscar-wilde-16_dorian_basil-hallward-is-what-i-think-i-am-lord_685162.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea2/oscar-wilde-16_dorian_basil-hallward-is-what-i-think-i-am-lord_685162.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Basil Hallward is what I think I am: Lord Henry what the world thinks me: Dorian what I would like to be—in…” — Oscar Wilde", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Oscar Wilde", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Basil Hallward is what I think...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/basil-hallward-is-what-i-think-i-am-lord-henry-what-the-world-thinks/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/basil-hallward-is-what-i-think-i-am-lord-henry-what-the-world-thinks/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```