“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.”
About
Oscar Wilde lived like a firework… dazzling, daring, and destined to burn brightly. With wit as sharp as his wardrobe, he skewered Victorian hypocrisy in plays like The Importance of Being Earnest and penned haunting beauty in The Picture of Dorian Gray. But behind the charm was courage: he faced prison for love and never stopped championing truth, art, and authenticity. Wilde showed that being yourself, unapologetically, is the most radical act of all.
Place of Birth
Dublin, Ireland
Birthday
October 16, 1854
Death
November 30, 1900 in Paris, France
Legacy
Oscar Wilde was an Irish playwright, poet, and novelist known for his razor-sharp wit, flamboyant style, and fearless critique of Victorian hypocrisy. Despite facing public scandal and imprisonment, Wilde’s brilliance endured. His literary works and unapologetic individuality helped pave the way for more open conversations about art, identity, and social norms, securing his place as one of the most quoted and beloved writers in the English language.
Influence
Wilde’s influence is felt in literature, theater, fashion, and LGBTQ+ culture. His unapologetic authenticity and aesthetic philosophy helped shape modern ideas of self-expression. Writers from George Bernard Shaw to André Gide, and countless artists and activists, have drawn from Wilde’s courage and style. His wit and satire remain a hallmark of clever writing and cultural critique to this day.
Values & Beliefs
Wilde championed beauty, individuality, freedom, and the power of art. He rejected conformity, moral rigidity, and social pretension, instead embracing the complexity of human nature. Wilde believed life should be lived fully and honestly, even if that meant defying convention. For him, art existed not just to reflect life, but to elevate it.
Most Famous For:
Mastering wit, satire, and the epigram as literary tools
Critiquing Victorian morality and celebrating aestheticism
Becoming a cultural icon of individualism, elegance, and rebellion
“To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.”
Ethan Townzen 