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Posted By : crystalwizard - 5/4/2008 1:14 AM
A Few Maxims For The Instruction Of The Over-Educated
by
Oscar Wilde (1854-1900)

=================
Education is an admirable thing. But it is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is worth knowing can be taught.

Public opinion exists only where there are no ideas.

The English are always degrading truths into facts. When a truth becomes a fact it loses all its intellectual value.

It is a very sad thing that nowadays there is so little useless information.

The only link between Literature and Drama left to us in England at the present moment is the bill of the play.

In old days books were written by men of letters and read by the public. Nowadays books are written by the public and read by nobody.

Most women are so artificial that they have no sense of Art. Most men are so natural that they have no sense of Beauty.

Friendship is far more tragic than love. It lasts longer.

What is abnormal in Life stands in normal relations to Art. It is the only thing in Life that stands in normal relations to Art.

A subject that is beautiful in itself gives no suggestion to the artist. It lacks imperfection.

The only thing that the artist cannot see is the obvious. The only thing that the public can see is the obvious. The result is the Criticism of the Journalist.

Art is the only serious thing in the world. And the artist is the only person who is never serious.

To be really mediæval one should have no body. To be really modern one should have no soul. To be really Greek one should have no clothes.

Dandyism is the assertion of the absolute modernity of Beauty.

The only thing that can console one for being poor is extravagance. The only thing that can console one for being rich is economy.

One should never listen. To listen is a sign of indifference to one's hearers.

Even the disciple has his uses. He stands behind one's throne, and at the moment of one's triumph whispers in one's ear that, after all, one is immortal.

The criminal classes are so close to us that even the policemen can see them. They are so far away from us that only the poet can understand them.

Those whom the gods love grow young.

Posted By : Jaqhama - 5/6/2008 11:54 AM
I think Wilde often talked a load of bollocks meself.

The more cynical observations he made the more people invited him to dinner.

I might cynically suggest that there was a means to his manner and that acute moral and social observations were not at the forefront of his writings and utterings.

But then I'm British born as well...that might make a difference.
(A lot of us couldn't stand The Beatles either.)

You can read some of my stories here:
Skulkers. Jack be nimble, Jack be quick. RAT's. La Carcajou. Jet Bike Boogie...at www.pulpanddagger.com
Swamp Story. Down South. Florida Haze.Wild Justice...
at www.bikernet.com (Plus many of my motorcycle related articles.)
The Covert OP. Chick Prick...at www.milstory.com


Posted By : tchernabyelo - 5/6/2008 12:48 PM
One of the best Wilde-related quotes was when someone (and I can't remember who) got the better of him. Upon hearing a particular witticism Wilde remarked "I wish 'd said that!" to which his companion wearily responded "You will, Oscar, you will...."

Brian Dolton
 
Land Of Wind And Ghosts stories:
"The Box Of Beautiful Things" - IGMS#3
"The Man Who Was Never Afraid" - Abyss and Apex #20
"At Blue Crane Falls" - Abyss and Apex #25
"Where No Wind Blows" - Staffs & Starships #2
"What The Sea Refuses" - Black Gate (forthcoming)
"What The Heart Bears" - Black Gate (forthcoming)
"Above The Clouds" - Paper Blossoms, Sharpened Steel (forthcoming)
"The Gray World" - Every Day Fiction (forthcoming)
"Three Out Of Four" - Sorcerous Signals Feb-Apr 08 
"The Dragon Path" - Fictitious Force #5
"The Last Arrow Of Liang Xi" - Darwin's Evolutions (forthcoming)
 
Stories in other settings:
"The Unicorn Hunter" - OG's Speculative Fiction #8
"Call Centre" - Necrotic Tissue #1
"When Winter Came" - ASIM #32
"Cold Fire" - Flashing Swords #9
"St. Saviour And The Devil's Dandy" - Flashing Swords (forthcoming)
"In This City" - Fantasy Magazine (forthcoming)


Posted By : Jaqhama - 5/6/2008 1:12 PM
tchernabyelo said...
One of the best Wilde-related quotes was when someone (and I can't remember who) got the better of him. Upon hearing a particular witticism Wilde remarked "I wish 'd said that!" to which his companion wearily responded "You will, Oscar, you will...."

That's quite amusing mate. lol

You can read some of my stories here:
Skulkers. Jack be nimble, Jack be quick. RAT's. La Carcajou. Jet Bike Boogie...at www.pulpanddagger.com
Swamp Story. Down South. Florida Haze.Wild Justice...
at www.bikernet.com (Plus many of my motorcycle related articles.)
The Covert OP. Chick Prick...at www.milstory.com


Posted By : MysticWino - 5/7/2008 6:20 PM
"I can resist anything but temptation"
one of my favorites

Read me soon in The Return of the Sword!
Blog: http://bitterhermit.wordpress.com
Buy wine: http://fringemonkey.org
Poetry Blog: http://fringemonkey.wordpress.com


Posted By : Anthony G Williams - 5/8/2008 5:07 AM
I enjoy Wilde's plays - he was very witty - but he was more concerned with wit (preferably with a slightly shocking element) than with accuracy.
 
His little aphorisms sound great, but generally don't stand up to inspection.

Tony Williams
Scales (2007), The Foresight War (2004)
Homepage: http://www.quarry.nildram.co.uk

SFF Blog: http://sciencefictionfantasy.blogspot.com/



Posted By : MysticWino - 5/8/2008 3:39 PM
Anthony G Williams said...
I enjoy Wilde's plays - he was very witty - but he was more concerned with wit (preferably with a slightly shocking element) than with accuracy. I saw a recorded version of "Salome" back in my undergrad days. I think it was a BBC [I love BBC, just for the record] production. Powerful. Loved it. I used to have a recording of Gregory Peck reciting "The Ballad of Reading Gaol". Very enjoyable.
 
His little aphorisms sound great, but generally don't stand up to inspection. Wasn't he kind of the 19th century epitome of "all style, no substance"? His greatest art was the spectacle that was his life. Kind of a shame it turned into something between Dickens and Rimbaud.

Read me soon in The Return of the Sword!
Blog: http://bitterhermit.wordpress.com
Buy wine: http://fringemonkey.org
Poetry Blog: http://fringemonkey.wordpress.com

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