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Epigrams Aphorism
Epigrams Aphorism
Book
^tJtXA/^
^O 15
COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT
EPIGRAMS
APHORISMS
By Oscar
1905:
JOHN
Wilde
W.
LUCE
Copyright 1905
&* Company
By John W. Luce
^<>
LIBRARY
or
Two Copies
aONQHEss)
rtece<j
MAY 13 ly05
I
.Oooyriiit tiiiry
Cu^ss <C
COPY
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8.
&. &.
<'<'^T^HE book
of
gins with a
woman
in
life
be-
man and
a garden.
Selected from
The Picture
An
Ideal
of
Dorian Grey
Husband
A Woman
of
No
of
Being Earnest
Importance
Oscariana
The
Canterville Ghost
The Decay
The Soul
The
of
of
Lying
Man
under Socialism
Critic as Artist
The Credo
UEnvoi
The English Renaissance
of
Art
of the
Young
INTRODUCTION
y/N
yj
epigram
is the
sublimate of genius.
It
is
distinguished by
its
particular brilliancy.
It
em-
The
writer.
aim
at
which are
one.
The
modern
who
to-day
writer
follows
the
Greek
dull.
Chief
modern days
O^Flahertie
is
picturesque
that
Wills
of
Oscar
Wilde.
figure,
him
opinions.
subject, not
now, but
modifies
when we have
to
observe
a proper
it.
it
But
the Athe-
represents, notoriously
wrote is
judgment,
perspective.
INTRODUCTION
IV
Whatever
Wilde as a
may
ivhole,
it
is certain that
Oscar
in his epigrams
and aphorisms we have the very flower and blossom of his genius. Just as Rochefoucauld put
together the best of his own ideas and adaptations
of the thoughts of the ancients in his " Maxims^\'
as Franklin voiced the practical wisdom of his time
in the sayings of ^'Poor Richard''^; as Chateau-
way, and we
may
trace,
ing for
effect, to
the
expression's
sake.
Flippancy,
lightness
masks
worn for the time, although the wearer himself
was conscious only of the impression created by
of touch, dilettantism, were, after all, only
it
the appear-
ance of life.
Under the insouciance there was
a message
something real, something tangible
conveyed
although
to those
who were
in this strenuous
capable of receiving
life of
the
it,
Twentieth
its
mes-
INTRODUCTION
It is
a thankless
task, in
an orchid
coloring of
of
may not
a sightless
to
fully accord
whom Mr.
a sordid age,
of
of the cesthetes
revealed.''''
it
was one
^^ Beauty cannot
only
Perhaps
child.
preach
to
it
We may
question,
to
of his
be taught;
although not
heavily-humorous editor
levity of the
the (Esthetic
But
effect.
that there
was an
and in
cere.
When
fourths of
which he represented,
moment by one who is sin-
the school
England on
elements of sanity,^' he
all
knew
the penalty he
it.
He
which he said
first
was
to
himself
the
Eng-
lish public
ites
INTRODUCTION
vi
a lack
who revealed
him on the
of good-breeding by insulting
from these
detractors.
it
was,
For
itism.
Pre-Raphael-
and
the bril-
no fading
appreciated to-day
truth;
It
and
was
it
the (Esthetic
movement
to the
led
by him that
The
is
INTRODUCTION
vii
best,
it
In
English Renaissance
of
No
reader of
ArV^ can
fail to
"The
be
im-
it; it
tences as these.
human
document, that
But
it is
well
known
what
INTRODUCTION
via
a concession
states
what he
believes,
nizes, or another
is
in the peculiar
the
to
merely an
may
utter
state
There was,
self-abasement.
of
lifetime,
at
he recog-
be
confession,
an
effect
and
all that
Mr.
of these
epigrams he
he was something
to
truths,
whatever
may
"The
Man
Soul
is
logic,
which, whatever
give his
there
Enough
its
purpose, is convincing.
and we may
for-
INTRODUCTION
which they contain
drama in America.
It is
good
for art
and
literature
to
ix
as well as
In
Oscar Wilde
is
known
read
books or seen
his
thousands
his
plays
the
to
do
name of
who have not
good work.
to
and
books
and
"too
busy,''''
a synonym, in many
cases, for
mental
laziness.
of this master of
modern epigram
sage
it
conveys
is
deserving of
is
genius.
confession,
the
if
head
"It
work
is
it
with the
is done,''^
best
and
dictum of
postulate that
good work
may
T^he Picture
of Dorian Grey
THERE
than being
is
and that
is
not
not,
old
Punctuality
One
is
should never
make
one's
debut with a
The
is
only
ever reform a
possible mterest in
loses all
life.
With an evening
stock
man
tie,
even a
civilized.
Epigrams Sf Aphorisms
One can always be kind
to people
one cares
nothing about.
women
are tired,
be-
Conscience
is
the
trade-name
of
the
firm.
Laughter
ship,
and
is
it is
choose
my
my
my enemies
good looks,
The
do with the
It is
sincerity of the
man who
To become
who
life.
[12]
expresses
it.
ever argue.
own
life is
to
The
who
People
shallow
and
people.
their fidelity
What
is
Faithfulness
what constancy
tional life
their
lack of imagination.
life,
they call
simply a confession of
is
to
is
loyalty
custom or
emo-
to the
the intellectual
failure.
know how useful passion is for publicaNowadays a broken heart will run to
Poets
tion.
many editions.
Genius
lasts
That
we
all
ac-
over-educate ourselves.
"^
Women
At
least,
There
influence
looks.
point of view.
senses, just
[13]
Epigrams Sf Aphorisms
When
is
in love
one ends
oneself,
is vi^hat
one
by deceiving
others.
That
mean
about
There
something
is
infinitely
Women
no sense
^We
are charmingly
artificial,
of art.
live
in
Experience
the
name we
is
of
no
ethical value,
is
past.
in the country.
That
simply
demonstrates
same as the
It
it
is
There
the reason
[14]
The
The
fatality of
good resolutions
that they
is
There is luxury
blame ourselves we
blame us.
The
in
When we
self-reproach.
no one
feel
has a right to
else
is
that
it
leaves
one so unromantic.
When
woman
husband is
becomes
dreadfully
that
dowdy
Beauty
is
a form of Genius
than Genius, as
it
is
it is
is
is
pay
People
only superficial,
for.
higher indeed,
needs no explanation.
but at least
to
who do
It
not judge by
appearances.
The commonest
hides
thing
is
delightful
it.
[15]
if
one only
Epigrams Sf Aphorisms
The one charm
life
of marriage
that
is
it
makes a
Good
artists give
consequently are
it is
incredible.
perfectly
uninteresting
them-
selves.
When we
others,
we
think that
it is
Never
woman
are experimenting on
trust
over
It
faithful
the faithftti
ribbons.
we
woman who
thirty-five
who
wears mauve or a
is
It is personality
fond
of
pink
history.
move
the
age.
it is
The
--T^There
is
mons worth
painting, though
be better for a
The
reason
that
we
is
A
is
we
are
of optimism
little
is
Com-
them would
afraid of ourselves.
The
basis
sheer terror.
cigarette
is
and
exquisite
of
whitewashing.
all like to
all
many
it
who know
everything,
The
secret of
an emotion that
There
is
remaining young
is
is
never to have
unbecoming.
whom
love.
Fashion
for a
is
that
moment
by which the
universal.
fantastic
becomes
manners are
of
more
chef.
Even
for cold
life
the
entrees,
for a
cannot atone
virtues
Insincerity
is
Intellect
is
moment one
nose or
all
sits
of
to think
an exaggera-
any
face.
The
one becomes
all
Being natural
A man
down
ex-
intellectual
in itself
is
simply a pose.
his enemies.
my
fact that
relations.
we
suppose
The
to
be wise
told that
when one
a woman.
Good
fere
loses
one's
with
pure vanity,
One
but one
life,
its details.
is
that
it
is
past, but
facts in
away.
One can
sensation.
To
test the
When
rope.
Reality
we must
the verities
see
it
on the
tight
judge them.
The costume
Sin
testable.
in
modern
I
de-
left
life.
unbearable.
about
it is
is
is
quite
^It
its
is
It is hitting
use.
is
something
below the
is
unfair
intellect.
better to be
The
force,
There
good than
is
young.
to
is
be ugly.
not that one
is
old,
The
Only
No woman
sex.
say
is
a genius:
women
are a decorative
men
represent the
The
plain
to gain
women
If
you want
women
The other
They commit one
It
is
things.
The
[21]
little
longer.
is
a great advantage.
The mind
is like
of a thoroughly well-informed
a bric-a-brac shop,
all
its
it is
man
proper value.
one's duty to
drown
by one's conversation.
Always! that
is
so fond of using
trying to
Tea
It is
is
make
it
it.
a dreadful word.
They
spoil every
Women
are
romance by
last forever.
who
left to us.
require years to
invent a pleasure.
[22]
An
Ideal
Husband
II
Morality
people
is
whom we
we adopt toward
personally dislike.
Modern women
find
new scandal
air
as
be-
them both
in
perfectly
is
dumb
at
longing to be
absolutely deaf.
Nothing
one
is
is
modern;
is
rule.
[25]
modern
intellect.
No woman,
sense at
Common-sense
we men
is
any common-
the privilege of
we
it.
Spies are
fession
all.
is
of
over.
instead.
One
An
ment
Optimism begins
in
Romance should
It
poses.
settlement.
An
When
man
Philanthropy
annoy
woman
he
will
do anything
to
Husband
Ideal
is
who wish
their fellow-creatures.
The London
season
is
entirely
matrimonial.
from them.
Society has gone to the dogs: a lot of nobodies
talking about nothing.
Pleasure
is
Nothing
There
life.
is
The
A woman
whose
[27]
Epigrams Sf Aphorisms
Political parties are the only places left to us
A man who
talk politics.
Only
In modern
life
as a good platitude.
It
makes
effect
kin.
luxury in modern
out.
life,
secret
Women
man
should have a
have a wonderful
They can
things.
but no
wife.
discover
instinct
everything
about
except
the obvious.
If
and the
Irish
how
to listen society
civilized.
[28]
to talk
would be quite
An
The
it
Husband
on.
It is
London
idiots
Ideal
and
The
is
to pass
society
is
composed
entirely
of beautiful
brilliant lunatics.
is
oneself.
is
Women
men always
are.
Self-sacrifice is
by
law.
whom
It is so
one
Pluck
is
by compliments,
down
sacrifices oneself.
not so
common nowadays
as genius.
[29]
irrational.
it
in this
love oneself
is
romance.
It is
arrive.
No man
is
One's past
enough
to
what one
is.
rich
is
level
with
classes.
buy back
his past.
It is the
only thing
The
reason
we
people's secrets
is
it
is
unfashionable
Youth
isn't
to her dressmaker.
affectation.
Youth
is
an
art.
is
An
Ideal
Husband
everything except
husbands.
[31]
life.
Lady
TVindemere^ s
Fan
mmmm.
ni
We
are
of
all
you pretend
very seriously.
If
Such
doesn't.
to
you pretend
the
is
be bad,
to
astounding
stupidity
it
of
optimism.
can
It is
riage
resist
of fashion
the
wives hold
heart
to
is
going out
the honors
and
trick.
go with modern
doesn't
Nowadays
odd
all
dress.
It
old.
be
intelligible is to
[35]
be found out.
cynic
everything,
is
sentimentalist
is
the price of
of nothing.
man who
sees
know
an absurd
the market
To
is
seriously about.
Women
we
are good
us at
all.
us,
And
if
us quite irretriev-
us quite unattractively
good.
What
nowadays
Repentance
consoles one
and
beside,
if
woman
is
is
[36]
are
all in
some
of us are
Experience
is
Words
tragedies in
first
Words
life,
life.
words
are merciless.
Realities
wound,
There
is
tion of a married
man knows
In
One
world there
this
is
woman.
It is
are
The
is
getting
is
a real tragedy
it.
last is
much
one's
a thing no married
anything about.
own
faults
Ah
there
[37]
the worst
the last
to suffer
for
the sting of
life.
always recognize
women who
trust
Good
world.
harm in the
harm they do is
that they
greatest
make badness
importance.
It
is
of
such extraordinary
tedious.
old,
good.
My experience is
enough
at
to
know
know anything
all.
It
woman
to
do a
Nothing looks so
like
innocence as an
in-
discretion.
Crying
is
[38]
women
but the
They outrage
every
It
an awfully
is
across a
woman who
dangerous
one.
absolutely
hair.
History
gossip
merely
is
made
moralizes
who
come
to
strous.
dyed
thing
is
But
gossip.
tedious by morality.
scandal
moralizes
is
invariably
is
A man who
plain.
woman
There
is
woman
as a Nonconformist conscience.
suspicious of anything
happy married
[39]
life.
It is
to
for a
husband
pubhc.
in
It
when they
are alone.
tlemen I know.
Even business should have a picturesque background. With a proper back-ground a woman
can do anything.
When men
give
up saying what
My
own
is
is
charming,
charming.
me
to death, I
one.
How
marriage ruins a
izing as cigarettes,
and
man
far
It is
as demoral-
more expensive.
[40]
The
Importance
of Being Earnest
IV
The
truth
Modern
either,
life
The amount
husbands
is
of
women who
scandalous.
It
flirt
is
with their
own
simply washing
any kind
is
invalids
is
morbid.
couraged in others.
A man who
know
Ignorance
is
like
a delicate exotic
fruit;
touch
whatsoever.
[43]
who
to live,
The way
to her
is
how
to
she
if
behave
is pretty,
to
and
woman
to
is
to
some one
make
else
die.
love
she
if
plain.
Women
Memory
diary
the
is
lot of
sister after
other things
that
chronicles
they
first.
things
have happened.
is
what
and want
on the way
worn very high at
largely
Divorces are
bad unhappily.
the
means.
fiction
happily,
of
profile.
the chin
is
present.
made
in heaven.
[44]
Style
worn.
want
of
depends
They
are
marriage, which
No
each
out
finding
is
Earnest
character
other's
before
never advisable.
her age.
It
looks so calculating.
who
Girls
disrespectfully of society.
it
it
do
Only
that.
men
they
flirt
with.
right.
It is
ment
of
if
one wants
to retain
life.
[45]
any sense
of the beauty
If
and
if
What
listen,
talk.
or pleasure.
It gives
By
it
up.
man
con-
inter-
One must be
wants
to
An engagement
not been broken
The
only
over-dressed
one
way
is
is
if
in life.
educated.
[46]
Earnest
to say
common
are in London.
ness.
Only people
stock-brokers
like
do
that,
at dinner parties.
is
inspire confidence
even in tradesmen.
All
is
Few
that
their children
say to them.
young
In married
life
is fast
three
is
none.
[47]
The
old-fashioned
dying out.
is
Woman
of
No
Importance
Twenty
like
years of romance
To
To
man
as
if
he bored you.
either to feed
people,
amuse
people,
or shock
people.
Women
want
to
There
is
in
our day,
if
ever,
do they
for-
give them.
Discontent
of a
man
the
is
step
first
in
the progress
or a nation.
Sentiment
all
is
but a well-tied
tie is
first
serious step in
life.
never
talk.
The youth
of
in
their
first
childhood.
As
far as
Nowadays
it is
A Woman
Women
No
Importance
should
nothing
of
them
surprise
except
happy
marriages.
the
Health
English
fox
the
gentleman
country
unspeakable in
galloping
after
full
evil
of everyone until
eatable.
It
safer
is
believe
to
people are found out to be good, but that requires a great deal of investigation nowadays.
The
immoral
Plain
is
an absolutely
certainty.
women
bands, beautiful
women
bad man
innocence.
is
the sort of
man who
admires
bad woman
It
is
is
the sort of
woman
man
of.
way
people go
about nowadays saying things against one, behind one's back, that are absolutely and entirely
true.
To
elope
is
it.
cowardly
it is
danger;
mger; and danger has become so rare in modern
life.
know how
to play
It is the
with
it
is
that
people
who
up.
There
Puritans
is
;
no objection
it is
to plain
women
being
plain.
[54]
A Woman
Women
The
is
the
No
Importance
Soul
is
born
comedy
and grows
of
of
but
old,
life.
old; that
is
it
The Body
is
born young
Life's tragedy.
All
Americans
dress
well
they
get
their
clothes in Paris.
It is
even one's
own
relations.
[55]
Epigrams Sf Aphorisms
Men
when they
are good
Men
women
Women
woman
be a man's
last
first
love
romance.
set.
Every
is
against herself.
All
men
are married
property really
is.
is
a necessary thing.
No man
has any
women
You might
as well be a
barrister,
[56]
or a
A Woman
The
history of
of
No
woman
Importance
the history of the
is
weak over
known
the strong.
It is
last
refuge
of
the
complex.
One
the color of
life
the
less said
about
life's
sores
the better.
Women
against the
mere existence
When good
of
common
sense.
to
Paris,
When
also.
course of one's
life it
in the
others
it is
not
One
would
One
tell
woman who
A woman who
would
tell
tells
that
anything.
taking sides
is
and
The happiness
man depends on
of a married
One
is
the reason
The
sinner
[58]
and every
A Woman
The world
tragedies,
havS
of
No
Importance
always laughed
at
way
in
its
own
which
it
has been able to bear them; consequently, whatever the world has treated seriously belongs to
the
comedy
Women
enough of
side of things.
love
defects;
forgive
if
men have
them every-
The
Moderation
is
fatal thing;
nothing succeeds
like excess.
Memory
in
woman
is
ness.
When
man
always knows
Men know
life
life
life
one
too early,
late.
[59]
women know
life
too
All thought
is
immoral.
Its
very essence
Women
have a
this world;
much
is
kill
it.
men
in
to them.
To
out of
be
it
There
in
society
is
simply a tragedy.
is
The
most kings.
[60]
in
A Woman
A
really
nowadays.
of
No
grande passion
Importance
is
comparatively rare
It is the privilege of
That
nothing to do.
is
people
who have
More marriages
common
How
else.
with a
nowadays by the
by anything
can a woman be expected to be happy
are ruined
man who
insists
on treating her as
she
if
husband
woman
Life
is
is
exquisite
is
tired of
meeting him.
moments.
[6i]
made up
of
Phrases
the
VI
The
first
duty in
What
possible.
life
is
to
be as
is
artificial
as
no one has
yet discovered.
Wickedness
is
Science
The
is
when they
and
The
is
of the smallest
importance.
Dulness
is
the
coming of age
[65]
of seriousness.
If
later, to
In
is
tells
unimportant matters
all
not sincerity
In
is
all
style
not sincerity
important matters
style
the essential.
It is
sure, sooner or
be found out.
the essential.
hope
is
memory
to live in the
bills
that
we can
of the commercial
classes.
Time
is
There
They
is
fatality
are invariably
Any
or
waste of money.
about
made
all
good
resolutions.
too soon.
wrong
in
is
right
development.
person believes in
it.
[66]
resented by a
to
woman
is
rep-
enough
to refuse
Ambition
One
work
It
is
it.
art,
or wear a
of art.
is
The
is
is
the root of
The
last.
condition of perfection
know
is
everything.
idleness; the
aim
accepting
the
of perfection is youth.
Modern
morality
consists
in
Women
lives,
give
to
men
small change.
[67]
it
back
in very
Oscariana
VII
The costume
Sin
testable.
modern
in
is
is
de-
life.
can
live
To
is
lid.
charmingly on
get
peat one's
it.
ing
to re-
follies.
common
late,
and he
sense,
and
discover,
when
it
is
too
one's mistakes.
No
civilized
no uncivilized
Epigrams
If
man
& Aphorisms
his heart.
Pleasure
'
is
nature's
are good
we
test,
when
Being adored
''
is
is
To
life.
have
an honor.
a nuisance.
Women
treat us
us,
for
them.
just as
The
That
is
is
is
no
ennui.
forgive-
ness.
There
is
[72]
Oscariana
How
things.
It is
admire most.
in the
women
fond
are
of
doing
dangerous
Radical
merely a
is
man who
is
never dined,
The world
men may live
has been
in
made by
it.
[73]
VIII
The
form
ordinary
the
Americans
mense
merely such
conversation
of
as
cultured
of
superiority
of
Miss
Fanny Davenport
best
houses;
the
York accent
as
don drawl.
The reward
the coronet
of all
if
good
little
American
girls is
enough.
If a
woman
ingly she
is
cannot
make
merely a female.
[77]
"The
Decay of Lying
IX
Lying, the telling of beautiful untrue things,
the proper
aim
is
of Art.
Na-
its
of
America,
its
and
of high
according to his
own
its
confession,
was incapable
of
lie;
the story of
of literature.
[8i]
^ Aphorisms
Epigrams
The aim
light,
of the Har
is
He
to give pleasure.
is
civilized society.
imitates
Life.
copy
No
are.
it,
but molds
life.
It
does not
to its purpose.
it
Most
doomed
our
of
modern
to
be an
portrait
to absolute oblivion.
artist.
painters
They never
twilight nature
gestive effect,
'
perhaps
from the
its
and
is
chief use
is
the
sees,
to illustrate quotations
poets.
England
are
paint
home
of lost ideas.
[82]
Thinking is the most unhealthy thing in the world, and people die of it
Fortunately,
just as they die of any other disease.
in England at any rate, thought is not catching.
Our
physique
splendid
entirely
is
due
to
our
national stupidity.
who
everybody
least
is
taken to teaching.
If
man
sufficiently
is
duce evidence
unimaginative to pro-
in support of a
lie,
he might just
What
is
the
is
mask
We
birthright for a
Nature
is
good society
them wears, not the
mess of
and have
facts.
sold
our
a young
man
starts in life
of exaggeration which,
with a natural
nurtured in con-
if
telling,
begins to verify
people
no
has
presence,
who
are
all
statements
hesitation
in
much younger
made
in his
contradicting
often ends
life
probability.
Lying
young, which
lingers
is
among
is
the basis of
us,
improvement of the
home
and
still
sake,
education,
is
lying for
in art.
[84]
its
is,
own
lying
of
Nature
may make
any work of
the whole
will destroy-
art.
must be translated
into artistic
conventions.
The
do not concern
Nobody
of
us.
any
[85]
nowadays
Sunsets
are
X
There
the despot
is
who
despot
the
There is
There
who
tyrannizes
over
the
soul.
The second
is
called
the
Pope.
The
third
is
There
is
of this century
on
whom
It is
immoral
[89]
from the
Epigrams
Evolution
is
^ Aphorisms
the law of
life,
and there
is
no
Selfishness
It is
is
live.
live.
For-
ever.
It is
no longer
seriously treated.
pump.
own
key-y
hole.
majority of
exaggerated and
men
unhealthy altruism.
[90]
by an
Community
is
is
infinitely
employment
the habitual
of
Socialism
more brutalized by
punishment than it
of crime.
who has
is
man's
original virtue.
It is
through
He who would
is
perfectly
and absolutely
himself.
man
he
who
He may
be a
life is
of science, or a
young
who watches
who
who throws
God
like Spinoza,
matter what he
is
It
does not
is
within him.
thinks
is
the
else.
poor.
That
is
think of nothing
[91]
him
claims upon
inevitably out of
at
all.
man.
which
to
tion that
all
It
the differentiation
is
organisms grow.
It is the
mode
inherent in every
is
with any
It is the point to
development tends.
all
It
man
life
of
perfec-
and
life,
quickens.
In-
On
the contrary,
It
it
says to
no compulsion
suffer
to
man
that he should
knows
To
alone.
tical is like
Evolution
To
call
are
is
It
let
prac-
is
practical.
and there
is
no evolu-
is
tion except
when they
the law of
life,
toward individualism.
an
artist
mad
is
as
silly
as
if
because he wrote
King Lear.
As
but
for begging,
it is
it
finer to take
is
safer to
[92]
.^; ;_.
than to beg.
of the world
is
Socialism
landing.
leaves
at, for it
is
always
lands there,
Progress
it
sail.
is
himself.
What
is
outside of
of
no
importance.
The
They
brought up.
to
are
continually
asking art
flatter
their
taste,
to
stupidity.
lar.
The
when
Now
make
own
be popu-
itself artistic.
sought for
is
neither pain or
without
so
suffering
it
exercising
ever,
and
restraint
on
others,
more
Pleasure
himself.
test,
he
is
When man
at
is
or
to
do
more
Nature's
is
happy
his environ-
ment.
work
of art
temperament.
that
its
Its
author
do with the
they want.
is
is
fact
what he
is.
It
has nothing to
Indeed, the
moment
want what
[94]
The
Critic as Artist
XI
I dislike
modern memoirs.
written by people
who have
They
are generally
done anything
remembering
which,
however,
is, no doubt,
worth
memories,
their
or
have never
when a
The
mediocrity
public
is
is
talking to
as the
its
ease
It
for-
it.
wonderfully tolerant.
Cheap
ful,
editions of great
books
detestable.
than yourself
if
you allow
find
it
is
it
to degenerate to a habit,
you
will
ment.
[97]
Learned conversation
is
unemployed.
the foolish
philanthropist
feebly
tries
to
disarm
the
just
How
appalling
is
the ignorance
which
is
the
opinions!
ethical
sphere,
so
in trying to
Man
is
the
is
the nuisance of
man who
is
so occupied
a rational animal
temper when he
is
called
who always
upon
to act in
loses his
accordance
The
Critic as Artist
is
simply the
little
it.
The
sincerity
other
is
is
disliking art.
to like
it
One
is
rationally.
a dangerous thing.
All
To
is to
be
inartistic.
When
Right
is
not Might,
it
[99]
LofC-
is
Evil.
worst work
To
done.
is
of goodness
certain
quite easy.
is
amount
It
merely requires a
of sordid terror,
of imaginative thought,
and a
a certain lack
Science
is
Art
is
out
fixed
ever-
changing.
Though
offensive,
It is
of all poses a
still
to
moral pose
have a pose
is
the most
at all is something.
treating
life
from a
definite
point.
Life
makes us pay
wares, and
we purchase
at a cost that
is
monstrous and
[loo]
infinite.
its
its
secrets
The
It takes
Critic as Artist
a thoroughly
our own,
to deify self-sacrifice.
The mere
evils.
existence of conscience
It
we become
in
instinct
is
is
a sign of
must be merged
fine.
man
Self-denial
arrests his
progress.
When man
describes he
Life
is
acts he
is
is
a puppet.
When
he
a poet.
terribly deficient
in
form.
Its
catas-
people.
farce.
One
proaches
it.
is
Things
long enough.
[lOl]
long or not
Epigrams Sf Aphorisms
touch
should
Conversation
should concentrate
Modern journalism
everything,
but
on nothing.
itself
justifies
its
own
existence
of the survival
of the vulgarest.
The
ism
is
ture
is
between
difference
that journalism
is
not read.
There
is
journalism.
much to be
By giving
uneducated,
it
said in favor of
modern
Indiscretion
The
is
sure
to try to
The
is
way
make
basis
of
of
oneself useful.
action
is
lack of
to
life
dream.
[102]
imagination.
who know
not
how
The
Critic as Artist
He who would
give us an
stir
entirely
to us the soul of
The
new back-ground,
man
in its
inmost workings.
or reveal
for the
for us
by
over the
if
tree read-
who
genius
drops
point of view of
his
he
life,
a reporter
He
is
our
first
From the
who knows
ever known it.
aspirates.
is
We
live in the
To do
in
the
nothing at
world,
become absolutely
all is
stupid.
intellectual.
[103]
Epigrams @^ Aphorisms
do nothing that the
It is to
Imagination
simply
is
the
concentrated
dreamer
is
dawn
the
It
where
its
is
it
of
heredity.
It
is
race-experience.
who can
one
by moonlight, and
result
elect exist.
his
punishment
is
way
that he sees
because
was going
that
it
way.
Society often
forgives
the criminal;
it
never
own.
that effect.
It creates for
to
me
to
produce
tears.
[104]
The
Critic as Artist
When we
have
thing
looks
scientific
the
one person
the
dreamer
is
the
man
of action.
its
The
Past
is
of
no importance.
The
Present
of
have
public.
The
no notice whatever
public are to
Anybody can
him
of the
non-existent.
It
and
literature.
[105]
Epigrams
To know
(Sf
the vintage
Aphorisms
and quality
of a wine one
It is
ven-
much more
thing than to do
life
that
make
course, obvious.
Anybody can
Only a great man can write it.
of
is,
history.
To
about a
difficult to talk
it.
what has
the inalienable privilege and
never occurred
is
Technique
reason
pupil
critic
why
is
really personality.
cannot
learn
can understand
it,
That
it,
is
the
why
the
aesthetic
it.
is,
so far,
cal
artificial centur}-,
spirit
are
one.
[io6]
The
Education
to
is
Critic as Artist
an admirable
is
thing, but
it is
well
The Creeds
rational,
Yes,
Form
eversihing.
Life.
is
It
is
the
and
secret of
become
dear to you. Find expression for a joy and you
intensify its ecstacy.
Do you wish to love ? Use
Love's Litany, and the words will create the yearning from which the world fancies that they spring.
Have you a grief that corrodes your heart?
Find expression
for a sorrow
it
will
Hamlet and Queen Constance, and you will find that the mere expression
is a mode of consolation, and that Form, which
utterance from Prince
is
And
is
it is
Fonn
beaut}\
no
and there is
[107]
Epigrams Sf Aphorisms
We
when only
treated seriously.
critical
man
has sought to
set
to
from the
give
names
For
fresh
forms.
repeat
it
is
itself.
to
to the pearls.
and
critical
The tendency
It
is
of
creation
to
is
truly
great
being shown,
artist
or
cannot conceive of
life
Creation employs
its
own
sphere.
It
belongs to others.
all
its
critical
may not
use
it
It is exactly
is
[io8]
faculty within
in
a sphere that
because a
man
it.
The
It is so
Critic as Artist
suffering.
condemnation, whereas
that have
any true
it
is
intellectual value.
[109]
Tthe Credo
XII
To
reveal
art
artist is
art's
aim.
Those who
find
ugly meanings in
beautiful
The
own
is
face in the
glass.
The
is
own
face
in the glass.
work
is
[113]
artist
sympathy
nerism of
From
in
An
an
artist is
ethical
an unpardonable man-
style.
From
is
all
the
the
type.
We
can forgive a
man
for
making a
mires
it
intensely.
[114]
is
it.
useful
The
only
L'^ Envoi
XIII
It is not
to the aesthetic
be about
light, the
ever
rest
it,
demands
to give us
if it is
work we have
must
perfection.
ing value of beautiful workmanship, this recognition of the primary importance of the sensuous
element in
art, this
is
Ruskin
a departure
definitive
decisive.
[117]
and
different
and
XIV
The Origin
of the
Art Revolution
and discussing
art.
They had
To do
so
was
as citizens.
to lose, in
They had
England,
homage which
is
To
all.
consolation in
These
all
young
moments
men
Raphaelites because,
abstractions of
of spiritual doubt.
called
themselves
as opposed
to
Pre-
the facile
careful
more
of
technique,
an individuality
intense.
You have
the Lily
England, said
(I
movement
in
Well,
let
me
the gaudy
and perfect
be no flower
wreathe
leaf in
form
its
in
joy.
And
so with
you
tendrils
around your
let
there
does not
pillows,
no
little
to design,
no curving spray
its
of wild rose or
window
of marble,
no bird
[122]
in
your
The
curves of
its
wonder
wings
of
the exqui-
its color,
in flight, to
make more
in sea
and
swept heights
new
ure of
all
one of
us, in
the secret of
beauty.
We
life.
Well,
life is in art.
<$
The
the
Drama
critics
[123]
energy.
It is
Where Morality
is
Not
in Question
In nations, as in individuals,
if
strength.
moral
It is
it
will
be sure to waste
its
supervision
that
your
literature
needs.
moral poem.
Poems
is all.
Any
[124]
element of morals
The
x\ll
artistic effect.
literature,
that
is
merely,
it
is
All noble
lacking.
but universal.
own generous
From us you
Love
form.
ness of vision.
and
lives
work
is
Spiritual
not national
freedom your
own
all
This
it
is
away
what
fall
like sand,
is
Philosophies
beautiful
is
a joy for
all
seasons, a posses-
America
It is rather,
to
to
this great
[125]
we would turn
movement of
is
and power
England about
it
For
you, at least, are young; no hungry generations
tread you down, and the past does not mock you
of the joy
of Elizabeth's
and
you have
may
lost.
strength.
To
movement
of animals,
and
[126]
new
liberty.
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