“What is termed Sin is an essential element of progress. Without it the world would stagnate, or grow old, or become colourless.”

“How sad it is!" murmured Dorian Gray with his eyes still fixed upon his own portrait. "How sad it is! I shall grow old, and horrible, and dreadful. But this picture will remain always young. It will never be older than this particular day of June… . If it were only the other way! If it were I who was to be always young, and the picture that was to grow old! For that—for that—I would give everything! Yes, there is nothing in the whole world I would not give! I would give my soul for that!”

“But what world says that [I'm wicked]? It can only be the next world. This world and I are on excellent terms.”

“the costume of the nineteenth century is detestable. It is so sombre, so depressing. Sin is the only real colour-element left in modern life.”

“The real drawback to marriage is that it makes one unselfish. And unselfish people are colourless. They lack individuality.”

“The tragedy of growing old is not that one is old but that one is young.”

“LORD ILLINGWORTH: The soul is born old but grows young. That is the comedy of life.MRS ALLONBY: And the body is born young and grows old. That is life's tragedy.”