奧斯卡·王爾德(Oscar Wilde)生於1854年，卒於1900年，為劇作家、詩人、散文家，19世紀與蕭伯納齊名的英國才子。他的戲劇、詩作、小說則留給後人許多慣用語。
The only difference between a caprice and a life-long passion is that the caprice lasts a little longer.
逢場作戲和終身不渝之間的區別只在於逢場作戲稍微長壹些。
When one is in love, one always begins by deceiveing one's self, and one always ends by deceiving others. That is what would calls a romance.
愛，始於自我欺騙，終於欺騙他人。這就是所謂的浪漫。
——戀愛總是以自欺開始，以欺人結束。
The very essence of romance is uncertainty.
浪漫的精髓就在於它充滿種種可能。
Man is a rational animal who always loses his temper when he is called upon to act in accordance with the dictates of reason.
人是理性動物，但當他被要求按照理性的要求行動時，可又要發脾氣了。
My wallpaper and I are fighting a duel to the death. One or other of us has to go.
墻紙越來越破，而我越來越老，兩者之間總有壹個要先消失。——1900年11月30日，於左岸旅店，他的遺言。
No man is rich enough to buy back his own past.
-An Ideal Husband (1895)
沒有人富有到可以贖回自己的過去。
--改編自《理想的丈夫》
The truth is rarely pure and never simple.
-The Importance of Being Earnest (1895)
真相很少純粹，也決不簡單。
——《不可兒嬉》