Oscar Fingal O’Flahertie Wills Wilde was born in Ireland in 1854 and died destitute in France at the age of 46.
At the height of his success in London he was noted for his biting wit, flamboyant dress and glittering conversation. Wilde was one of the best-known personalities of his day.
Given that he was actually gay, it’s interesting to speculate on which experiences Oscar Wilde based his quotes about women.
Perhaps he formed his opinions based upon his 14-year marriage to Constance Lloyd with whom he had two children.
When Wilde was 41 he issued a lawsuit for libel against the father of his male lover. This was a huge mistake by Wilde as the evidence that emerged led to HIS eventual conviction for homosexual practices, which were illegal at that time.
In 1897, Wilde was sentenced to 2 years in prison, Following his release he left the U.K. and fled to France. He never returned.
Today he is still remembered for his epigrams, his novel – The Picture of Dorian Gray –
and his plays, especially The Importance of Being Earnest.
Some of the Oscar Wilde quotes feature in his written works; others are from conversations.
Whatever the source, browse through the list to observe his views on the fairer sex:
- How can a woman be expected to be happy with a man who insists on treating her as if she were a perfectly normal human being.
- Women are made to be loved, not understood.
- Between men and women there is no friendship possible. There is passion, enmity, worship, love, but no friendship.
- One should always be in love. That is the reason one should never marry.
- There is nothing in the world like the devotion of a married woman. It is a thing no married man knows anything about.
- Men marry because they are tired; women, because they are curious; both are disappointed.
- Women love us for our defects. If we have enough of them, they will forgive us everything, even our gigantic intellects.
- A man can be happy with any woman, as long as he does not love her.
- All women become like their mothers. That is their tragedy. No man does. That’s his.
- Woman begins by resisting a man’s advances and ends by blocking his retreat.
Do you think the Oscar Wilde quotes truly reflect the role and attitudes of women?
Do you identify or sympathize with any of Wilde’s views? Share your thoughts by making use of the comments feed below.
