Entry Journal The Picture of Dorian Grey by Oscar Wilde Page #| Quotation| Insights, Questions, Analysis, Connections| 4| “You do anything in the world to gain a reputation. As soon as you have one you seem to throw it away. ”| I think this is human nature. We always want things we may not have but once we have it loses the sentimental value we once held for it before we attained it. | 13| “It is only the intellectually lost who ever argue. ”| Am I intellectually lost since I may argue sometimes? What does Harry even mean by intellectually lost to begin with? Am I not intellectual? 20| “They feed the hungry and clothe the beggar. But their own souls starve, and are naked. ”| Talk about irony? But it’s true; simply one is afraid of himself these days. We try to do charitable works yet forget the duties we owe to ourselves. We instead live in self-denial. | 23| “You know more than you think you know, just as you know less than you want to know. ”| No one ever knows the extent of their own knowledge. It’s natural for people to want to know more and continue to learn. No one can ever know every single little piece of knowledge that exists in the world but people often want to know everything they can. 39| “Behind every exquisite thing that existed, there was something tragic. | Everything seems so much more fascinating when there is a story of tragedy or havoc behind it. This instantly reminded me of the quote, “Behind every pretty face, there is someone who’s done her wrong. ”| 62| “Experience was of no ethical value. It was merely the name men give to their mistakes. ”| Is Harry trying to infer to us that experience has no importance? Whether we frame our mistakes as “experiences”, mistakes are still a crucial value to life. 79| “Besides, every experience is of value, and, whatever one may say against marriage, it is certainly an experience. ”| Wow Harry has contradicted himself. In the previous quote he stated that experience “was of no ethical value. ” Okay Harry, should I trust anything that you say? | 83| “Being adored is a nuisance. ”| Rings up the question in my mind, is it better to be ignored then adored? Surely, I’d rather be adored even it is a nuisance. Being ignored can make you feel worthless. | 83| “Nothing is ever quite true. ”| This is so true!
Wait, nothing is ever true so I guess this is slightly true. | 89| “There are only two types of people who are really fascinating- people who know absolutely everything, and people who know absolutely nothing. ”| I strongly agree with this quote! People who know absolute everything leave our minds thinking and people who absolutely know nothing makes us wonder how. Both types of people are fascinating. | 100| “When we blame ourselves we feel that no one else has the right to blame us. It is the confession, not the priest that gives us absolution. | Yes, I agree with this conception.
When you blame yourself for something it gives you the feeling that you know what you’ve done is wrong and no matter what anyone else may say, it doesn’t really affect you. | 106| “I am afraid that women appreciate cruelty, downright cruelty, more than anything else. ”| This makes me feel some type of way. Why would anyone, whether man, woman, old, young, rich, or poor appreciate cruelty. | 112| “It is only shallow people who require years to get rid of an emotion. A man who is master of himself can end a sorrow as easily as he can invent pleasure. ”| Reminds of me of myself.
If I am sad I can recreate happiness for myself as fast as my sorrow had begun. It’s all in the mind; you only feel what you choose to feel, sometimes we can’t get past certain things because we let our feelings linger in the way. | 136| “No theory of life seemed to him to be of any importance compared with life itself. ”| What does he mean by this? Does he mean that the importance of life is different one from another? Or simply life can’t be explained only experienced. | 146| “Society, civilized society at least, is never very ready to believe anything to the detriment of those who are both rich and fascinating. | Being rich takes you a long way. With society being rich automatically sets you apart from everyone else. It can make one believe that a “rich” one is limited from crime, injustice, or damage. I wish society was not like this. | 153| “Sin is a thing that writes itself across a man’s face. It cannot be concealed. ”| What does Hallward mean by this? Does he mean that whatever sin you commit can never be hidden? | 155| “One has a right to judge of a man by the effect he has over his friends. ”| “Show me your friend, and I’ll show you your character,” this quote was told to me by my aunt.
I automatically thought of it after reading this excerpt. | 176| “There was something in the purity and refinement of that sad face that seemed to enrage him. ”| I automatically thought of children, we always classify them as “sweet & innocent,” but behind that face is a “bad” kid. | 183| “Women love us for our defects. If we have enough of them they will forgive us everything, even our intellects. ”| This is a true saying. If not what man would be married. It is the women who accept the imperfections of the man and set it aside because of their love for them. 189| “To cure the soul by means of the senses and the senses by means of the soul. ”| The basic point of this quote is to crave the soul. What the soul wants is what the soul should get. | 190| “It is said that passion makes one think in a circle. ”| Passion keeps you constantly thinking, I think that’s what is meant by this. | 199| “I admit that I think that is better to be beautiful than to be good. ”| I don’t agree with this quote at ALL. For one beauty is not worth of any value. Beauty does not go with you to your grave but your good deeds do. | 200| “To define is to limit. | Well said! Couldn’t have said it any better. | 201| “Every effect that one produces gives one an enemy. To be popular one must be a mediocrity. ” | This quote is so true to an extent. Anything you do in life there is someone whether outward or in the dark gives an enemy. No matter how mediocre you try to be you still will not be liked by everyone. | 206| “The loves and sorrows that are great are destroyed by their own plentitude. ”| It reminds me of the shooting star analogy. Something that burns brilliantly and intensely but only for a brief period. |
