“The only way to atone for being occasionally a little over-dressed is by being always absolutely over-educated.”

“He atones for being occasionally somewhat overdressed by being always absolutely over-educated. He is a very modern type.”

“If I am occasionally a little over-dressed, I make up for it by being always immensely over-educated.”

“There are only two ways, as you know, of becoming civilized. One is by being cultured, the other is by being corrupt.”

“My dear boy," said Lord Henry, smiling, "anybody can be good in the country. There are no temptations there. That is the reason why people who live out of town are so absolutely uncivilized. Civilization is not, by any means, an easy thing to attain to. There are only two ways by which men can reach it. One is by being cultured, the other by being corrupt. Country people have no opportunity of being either, so they stagnate.”

“Civilization is not by means an easy thing to attain to. There are only two ways by which man can reach it. One is by being cultured, the other by being corrupt.”

“She was a curious woman, whose dresses always looked as if they had been designed in a rage and put on in a tempest. She was usually in love with somebody, and, as her passion was never returned, she had kept all her illusions. She tried to look picturesque, but only succeeded in being untidy.”