Today is the anniversary of Oscar Wilde who died, at the young age of 46, in 1900.
(1854-1900)
I can’t but think today of the great words of wit and wisdom which are part of this Irishman’s vast legacy. Here are some of my favourites:
‘When people agree with me I always feel I must be wrong.’
‘We are all in the gutter but some of us are looking at the stars.’
‘I dislike arguments of any kind. They are always vulgar, and often convincing.’
‘There is a luxury in self-reproach. When we blame ourselves, we feel no one else has a right to blame us.’
‘The well bred contradict other people. The wise contradict themselves.’
‘The pure and simple truth is rarely pure and never simple.’
‘To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.’
‘Selfishness is not living as one wishes to live, it is asking others to live as one wishes to live.’
SOCIAL BRIDGE ~ Jean Tubridy connecting with you from Ireland 
Oh yes. Oscar Wilde, but Gene and Thornton Wilder! I wish I’d come up with that, but “the pure and simple truth is…” that I didn’t. There is much traffic on the social bridges built by Dr. Tubridy, and I thank you,
Thanks, Van. What a coincidence that this day November 30) is so significant in terms of the lives of two of the most quoted people of all time. It’s Mark Twains birth date and the day Oscar Wilde died.
I know you must have hundreds of favourite Mark Twain quotes!!!
Yes, I have collected a few. A man recently asked if I’d quote my favorite things said by Mr. Twain. I invited him to take a seat.
I like the self-reproach one best. I can relate to that!
I agree, Angie, it touches many a chord!
Brilliance – sheer brilliance.
Louis, I agree! I think Oscar Wilde is amazing. Thanks for writing.
I’m sure many will disagree: It is through art, and through art only, that we can realise our perfection.
Interesting one, David. I suppose a lot depends on how ‘art’ is defined.
Good point. For me, art is about ideas that move us [society] forward. As someone once said: Art never lies.
The idea that ‘art never lies’ is new to me. There’s a lot in it and I’d like to believe it but I wonder, though, is it a bit idealistic?
I’d say that art, in all it’s forms is about expressing thoughts and feelings, as well as ideas and it doesn’t necessarily move us forward. Sometimes it tells us who we are.