It was the passions about whose origin we deceived ourselves that tyrannized most strongly over us. Our weakest motives were those of whose nature we were conscious. It often happened that when we thought we were experimenting on others we were really experimenting on ourselves.

It was the passions about whose origin we deceived ourselves that tyrannized most strongly over us. Our weakest motives were those of whose nature we were conscious. It often happened that when we thought we were experimenting on others we were really experimenting on ourselves.

Erano le passioni sulla cui origine ci ingannavamo a tiranneggiarci con più forza. I nostri moventi più deboli erano quelli di cui conoscevamo la natura. Spesso accadeva che, mentre pensavamo di sperimentare sugli altri, stessimo in realtà sperimentando su noi stessi.

Oscar Wilde · The Picture of Dorian Gray

Well, the way of paradoxes is the way of truth. To test Reality we must see it on the tight rope. When the Verities become acrobats, we can judge them.

Beh, la via dei paradossi è la via della verità. Per mettere alla prova la Realtà dobbiamo vederla sul filo del rasoio. Quando le Verità diventano acrobati, allora possiamo giudicarle.

Oscar Wilde · The Picture of Dorian Gray

I admit that I think that it is better to be beautiful than to be good. But on the other hand, no one is more ready than I am to acknowledge that it is better to be good than to be ugly.

Ammetto di pensare che sia meglio essere belli che essere buoni. Ma d'altro canto, nessuno è più pronto di me a riconoscere che è meglio essere buoni che essere brutti.

Oscar Wilde · The Picture of Dorian Gray

Moderation is a fatal thing. Enough is as bad as a meal. More than enough is as good as a feast.

La moderazione è fatale. Averne abbastanza è male quanto fare un pasto. Averne più che abbastanza vale quanto un banchetto.

Oscar Wilde · The Picture of Dorian Gray

There is no such thing as a moral or an immoral book. Books are well written, or badly written. That is all.

Non esistono libri morali o immorali. I libri sono scritti bene o scritti male. Tutto qui.

Oscar Wilde · The Picture of Dorian Gray