If you pretend to be good, the world takes you very seriously. If you pretend to be bad, it doesn't. Such is the astounding stupidity of optimism.

Quote by Oscar Wilde

Topics: Goodness Quotes, Optimism Quotes

The old believe everything; the middle aged suspect everything: the young know everything.

The old believe everything; the middle aged suspect everything: the young know everything.

Seriousness is the only refuge of the shallow.

Seriousness is the only refuge of the shallow.

Genius is born, not paid.

Genius is born, not paid.

Always forgive your enemies - nothing annoys them so much.

Always forgive your enemies - nothing annoys them so much.

It is the spectator, and not life, that art really mirrors.

It is the spectator, and not life, that art really mirrors.

The proper school to learn art is not life but art

The proper school to learn art is not life but art

Women have a wonderful instinct about things. They can discover everything except the obvious.

Women have a wonderful instinct about things. They can discover everything except the obvious.

I put all my genius into my life; I put only my talent into my...

I put all my genius into my life; I put only my talent into my...

If there was less sympathy in the world, there would be less trouble in the...

If there was less sympathy in the world, there would be less trouble in the...

Mr. Henry James writes fiction as if it were a painful duty.

Mr. Henry James writes fiction as if it were a painful duty.

Love is not a clock. You simply cannot take it apart just to see what...

Love is not a clock. You simply cannot take it apart just to see what...

There are many things that we would throw away if we were not afraid that...

There are many things that we would throw away if we were not afraid that...

Women have a wonderful instinct about things. They can discover everything except the obvious.

Women have a wonderful instinct about things. They can discover everything except the obvious.

If the poor only had profiles there would be no difficulty in solving the problem...

If the poor only had profiles there would be no difficulty in solving the problem...

There is luxury in self reproach. When we blame ourselves, we feel no one else...

There is luxury in self reproach. When we blame ourselves, we feel no one else...

The face of the enemy frightens me only when I see how much it resembles...

The face of the enemy frightens me only when I see how much it resembles...

Laughter is not at all a bad beginning for a friendship, and it is far...

Laughter is not at all a bad beginning for a friendship, and it is far...

It is because Humanity has never known where it was going that it has been...

It is because Humanity has never known where it was going that it has been...

To change skins, evolve into new cycles, I feel one has to learn to discard....

To change skins, evolve into new cycles, I feel one has to learn to discard....

Change is the essence of life.Be willing to surrender what you are for what you...

Change is the essence of life.Be willing to surrender what you are for what you...

As far as we can discern, the sole purpose of human existence is to kindle...

As far as we can discern, the sole purpose of human existence is to kindle...

Where you see valid achievements or virtue being attacked, it's by someone viewing them as...

Where you see valid achievements or virtue being attacked, it's by someone viewing them as...

In my case Pilgrim's Progress consisted in my having to climb down a thousand ladders...

In my case Pilgrim's Progress consisted in my having to climb down a thousand ladders...