170 years ago today, 16 October 1854, Oscar Wilde was born in Dublin. He became a popular playwright during his life, also writing many short stories, some poetry, and perhaps most famously today, the novel The Picture of Dorian Gray.
“Let us go to the theatre to-night,” said Lord Henry. “There is sure to be something on, somewhere. I have promised to dine at White’s, but it is only with an old friend, so I can send him a wire to say that I am ill, or that I am prevented from coming in consequence of a subsequent engagement. I think that would be a rather nice excuse: it would have all the surprise of candour.”
Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray
He is a master of the pithy turn of phrase and shows it to great effect in his many plays. Excessively quotable, I find this quotation of Lord Henry’s to be one that stuck with me for some reason. Perhaps it’s because I too tend to want to break plans after I’ve made them, or perhaps it’s because I recognize the need for more candour generally in my relationships.
Whatever the case, there are worse takeaways to be had from Lord Henry’s many witticisms, as the fate of Dorian Gray would attest.
I love Oscar Wilde’s writing and have read Dorian Gray multiple times, as well as studied it in university, but probably it is time for me to revisit Wilde’s plays and stories. Maybe I’ll have to get into it with a rewatch of The Importance of Being Ernest…
Fictitiously Yours 
Wouldn’t it be lovely to be truthful and say, ‘I want to stay home.’
I’d be less offended by someone telling me that than saying they got a better offer!
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Very true! I don’t think throwing over one friend for another, as Lord Henry suggests here, is a good use of “candour.” Good way to lose your “old friends!”
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