The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

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Description

Oscar Wilde brings his enormous gifts for astute social observation and sparkling prose to The Picture of Dorian Gray , his dreamlike story of a young man who sells his soul for eternal youth and beauty. This dandy, who remains forever unchanged—petulant, hedonistic, vain, and amoral—while a... read more

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Summary

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Cast of Characters

Dorian Gray: Add a description of this character.
Basil Hallward: Artist who paints Dorian Gray.
Lord Henry Wotton: Friend of Basil's.
Sibyl Vane: Actress, wins the affections of Dorian Gray.
Alan Campbell: Chemist, an old friend of Dorian Gray.
James Vane: Sibyl's brother, a sailor.

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Memorable Quotes

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“I like persons better than principles, and I like persons with no principles better than anything else in the world.”
Lord Henry Wotton
“To define is to limit.”
“The books that the world calls immoral are the books that show the world its own shame.”
“The commonest thing is delightful if one only hides it.”
Lord Henry Wotton
“We live in an age where men treat art as if it were meant to be a form of autobiography.”
Lord Henry Wotton
“The bravest man among us is afraid of himself”
Lord Henry Wotton
“Nothing can cure the soul but the senses, just as nothing can cure the senses but the soul.”
Lord Henry Wotton
“Each man lived his own life and paid his own price for living it.”
(Dorian Gray's thoughts, after he met Adrian Singleton)
“Philanthropic people lose all sense of humanity. It is their distinguishing characteristic.”
Lord Henry Wotton
“The things one feels absolutely certain about are never true. That is the fatality of faith, and the lesson of romance.”
Lord Henry Wotton
“Experience is of no ethical value. It is merely the name men gave to their mistakes.”
“He was always late on principle, his principle being that punctuality is the thief of time.”
“You must have a cigarette. A cigarette is the perfect type of a perfect pleasure. It is exquisite, and it leaves you unsatisfied. What more can one want?”
Lord Henry Wotton
“Ceea ce creeaza muzica in noi nu e o lume noua, ci mai degraba un alt haos.”
“Chipul ti se va galbeji, obrajii ti se vor scofalci, ochii isi vor pierde stralucirea. Ai sa suferi ingrozitor...Madularele slabesc, simturile se atrofiaza. Decadem mereu pana ce ajungem niste marionete dezgustatoare...Pe lume nu exista nimic in afara de tinerete...”
Lord Henry Wotton
“Draga baiete, nici o femeie nu e geniu. Femeile sunt o tagma decorativa. Niciodata n-au nimic de spus, dar o spun incantator. Femeile reprezinta trimful materiei asupra inteligentei...”
“Fidelitatea in viata sentimentala este acelasi lucru ca si consecventa in viata intelectuala-simpla recunoastere a esecului.”
“Ponegrirea de sine ascunde in ea o anumita voluptate. Cand ne ponegrim singuri avem impresia ca nimanui nu-i mai este ingaduit sa ne acuze.”
“Poti fi oricand curtenitor cu oamenii fata de care nu ai nici un fel de sentiment.”
“Un barbat poate fi fericit cu orice femeie, atata vreme cat n-o iubeste.”
“-Si ce crezi despre arta?... -Este o boala. -Dragoste? -O amagire. -Religia? -Un surogat la moda, folosit in locul Credintei. -Esti un sceptic. -De loc! Scepticismul este inceputul increderii. -Atunci ce esti? -A defini inseamna a limita.”
“De fiecare data cand iubim este singura oara cand am iubit vreodata. Diversitatea obiectelor nu poate influenta asupra unicitatii pasiunii.”
“Viata de om insurat nu-i decat o obisnuinta, o obisnuinta proasta. Numai ca omul regreta pierderile, chiar si cand isi pierde cele mai proaste obisnuinte.”
“Viata nu e condusa de vointa ori de proiecte dinainte stabilite. Viata e o alcatuire de nervi, de fibre, de celule cu greu randuite in care gandul isi afla ascunzatoare si pasiunea isi nutreste visurile.”

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First Sentence

The studio was filled with the rich odour of roses, and when the light summer wind stirred amidst the trees of the garden, there came through the open door the heavy scent of the lilac, or the more delicate perfume of the pink-flowering thorn.

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