Mere color, unspoiled by meaning, and unallied with definite form, can speak to the soul in a thousand different ways.

Now produce your explanation and pray make it improbable.

Imagination is a quality that was given to man compensate him from whats not. The sense of humor was given to console him from what is.

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.

I hope you hair curls naturally, does it? Yes, darling, with a little help from others.

Art finds her own perfection within, and not outside of, herself. She is not to be judged by any external standard of resemblance.

What the artist is always looking for is the mode of existence in which soul and body are one and indivisible: in which the outward is expressive of the inward: in which form reveals.

The world is made by the singer for the dreamer.

The work of art is to dominate the spectator: the spectator is not to dominate the work of art.

It is tragic how few people ever 'possess their souls' before they die. 'Nothing is more rare in any man,' says Emerson, 'than an act of his own.' It is quite true. Most people are other people. Their thoughts are some one else's opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation.

I think people regret what they didnt do more than what they did. I think everbody has things they failed to do. You cant see what is coming, Bobby. And if you could it is no guarantee you'd make the right choice even then. I believe in God's design.

He had a tattoo of a bird on his neck done by someone with an ill-formed notion of their appearance.