“As for being poisoned by a book, there is no such thing as that. Art has no influence upon action. It annihilates the desire to act. It is superbly sterile. The books that the world calls immoral are books that show the world its own shame.”

Irish playwright and wit of the late 19th century, Wilde was celebrated for his razor-sharp wit and satirical genius. His works, including *The Importance of Being Earnest*, blend humor with social critique, while his aphorisms remain enduringly quotable.