Портрет Доріана Грея
Preface
Themassesfeelthatdrunkenness,stupidity,andimmoralityshouldbetheirownspecialproperty, andthatifanyoneofusmakesanassofhimselfheispoachingontheirpreserves. WhenpoorSouthwarkgotintotheDivorceCourt,theirindignationwasquitemagnificent. AndyetIdon’tsupposethattenpercent.oftheproletariatlivecorrectly."
"Idon’tagreewithasinglewordthatyouhavesaid,and,whatismore,Harry,Ifeelsureyoudon’teither."
LordHenrystrokedhispointedbrownbeard,andtappedthetoeofhispatent-leatherbootwithatasselledebonycane. "HowEnglishyouare,Basil!Thatisthesecondtimeyouhavemadethatobservation. IfoneputsforwardanideatoatrueEnglishman—alwaysarashthingtodo—heneverdreamsofconsideringwhethertheideaisrightorwrong. Theonlythingheconsidersofanyimportanceiswhetheronebelievesitoneself. Now,thevalueofanideahasnothingwhatsoevertodowiththesincerityofthemanwhoexpressesit. Indeed,theprobabilitiesarethatthemoreinsincerethemanis,themorepurelyintellectualwilltheideabe,asinthatcaseitwillnotbecolouredbyeitherhiswants,hisdesires,orhisprejudices. However,Idon’tproposetodiscusspolitics,sociology,ormetaphysicswithyou. Ilikepersonsbetterthanprinciples,andIlikepersonswithnoprinciplesbetterthananythingelseintheworld. TellmemoreaboutMr.DorianGray.Howoftendoyouseehim?"
"Everyday.Icouldn’tbehappyifIdidn’tseehimeveryday. Heisabsolutelynecessarytome."
"Howextraordinary!Ithoughtyouwouldnevercareforanythingbutyourart."
