Special Sub-Topic: "The Importance of Being Earnest" Quotes Click Here To Play: "The Importance of Being Earnest" Quotes

'Health is the primary duty of life.'

Lady Bracknell. In a conversation with Algernon in Act 1, Lady Bracknell gives her view on people who 'shilly shally' with the question of life and death.

'I have only been married once. That was in consequence of a misunderstanding between myself and a young person.'

Lane. In Act 1, Lane and Algernon converse about the value of marriage. Despite his past experience, Lane believes marriage to be 'a very pleasant state'.

'To be born, or at any rate bred, in a handbag, whether it had handles or not, seems to me to display a contempt for the ordinary decencies of family life that reminds one of the worst excesses of the French Revolution.'

Lady Bracknell. Lady Bracknell's response to Jack's admission that he was found in a handbag as a baby.

'I am glad to say I have never seen a spade. It is obvious that our social spheres have been widely different.'

Gwendolen Fairfax. Cecily and Gwendolen argue over both being engaged to 'Ernest'.

'Well I can't eat muffins in an agitated manner. The butter would probably get on my cuffs'.

Algernon Moncrieff. Algernon trivialises his deception of Cecily by eating muffins, much to Jack's disgust.

'Bunbury? Oh, he was quite exploded.'

Algernon Moncrieff. Algernon kills his fictitious friend in the country.

'She is the most cultivated of ladies, and the very picture of respectability.'

Canon Chasuble. Canon Chasuble defends Miss Prism to Lady Bracknell in Act 3.

'I don't really know what a Gorgon is like, but I am quite sure that Lady Bracknell is one.'

Jack Worthing. Jack comments on Lady Bracknell after she refuses him permission to marry Gwendolen.

'The good ended happily, and the bad unhappily. That is what fiction means.'

Miss Prism. Miss Prism teaches Cecily and displays great inadequecy in the role of tutor.

'To lose one parent, Mr Worthing, may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both looks like carelessness.'

Lady Bracknell. Thanks for playing!