Wilde Wit Competition
The winners of the sixth Wilde Wit competition have been chosen! This competition was hosted by the Oscar Wilde
Society in partnership with The Oldie and the Decadence Research Centre at Goldsmiths University. We received more than 400 entries this year, which the Society’s committee narrowed down to a shortlist of 27 entries. More than 100 Society members voted to determine the winners.
First place – Amanda Parr. Amanda wins a signed copy of After Oscar by Merlin Holland.
Here is Gyles Brandreth, hon. President of the Oscar Wilde Society, reading Amanda’s entry.
Second place – Robert Eddison. Robert wins a copy of Articles from The Woman’s World, Edited by Oscar Wilde. Vanessa Heron, the Society’s chairman, reads Robert’s entry.
Third place – Tomasutti Alessandro. Tomasutti wins a copy of Oscar Wilde’s First Tragedy: The Composition, Production, and Reception of Vera; or, The Nihilists by Rob Marland. Stephen Fry, hon. Patron of the Society, reads Tomasutti’s entry.
Darcy’s Choice award – Eino Uusilehto. Eino wins a year’s membership in the Oscar Wilde Society. The award is chosen by Darcy Alexander Corstorphine, the three-time former contest winner, who reads Eino’s entry
Here is the shortlist, determined by the committee of the Oscar Wilde Society. These entries demonstrate the remarkable variety of the submissions, from humorous to profound.
It is not what one has done that ruins one’s reputation, but what one is suspected of enjoying. — Amanda Parr
To fall in love is human; to remain there is laziness. — Amanda Parr
It is best to humbly regard yourself as more important than others. — Gia Lee
Even the most beautiful eyes cannot unsee the hideous. — Angela Deazeley-Zuluaga
Wit is the art of being incredibly rude about people who thoroughly deserve it. — Anthony Bennett
One can only admit guilt when one no longer feels it. — Anthony Bennett
I love to give advice; it is the sincerest form of insult. — Anthony Bennett
We have triumphed, now we may finally die. — Alexis Blacksmith
All aphorisms are true, except this one. — Dr. Bob Turvey
I find it easy to love my enemies; it is my friends I cannot bear. — Charles van Heusen
She’s just a shadow of her former wealth. — Colin Mayo
Working from home is invariably a contradiction in terms. — Brian Mitchenere
Revenge is a dish best served eternally. — Eino Uusilehto
Luck is nothing but chaos with a touch of lipstick. — Francesco Sarti
The most exquisite beauty of life lies in the sweet sorrow of art. — Hocine Hakem
Anyone who describes life as a journey is going nowhere. — Webster
All-black outfits are not a failure of imagination — they are the conquest of it. — Hosannah Choi
One always forgives a liar — especially when their confession contains a lie even better than the truth. — Amalia Dolores
Work is the curse of the dreaming classes. — Sarah Egan
People can believe anything provided it’s not true. — Simon Scarratt
Always spread the truth and it will soon become a rumour. — Simon Scarratt
It’s devilishly hard to be angelic all of the time. — Susan Norvill
Can I keep a secret? Only from myself. — Trevor Johnson
Better to do nothing than something that merely resembles it. — GIuseppe Grieco
Congratulations to this year’s extremely witty people! And thank you to everyone who entered this year. Your way with words has gladdened our hearts, and would undoubtedly have made Oscar smile.
If Wildean wit tickles your fancy, consider joining the Oscar Wilde Society, where members explore the many sides of Wilde through events, performances and regular publications.
Society events include:
Members also receive three publications, including our peer-reviewed journal The Wildean, which contains original research and articles by Wilde scholars and experts.
Learn more on our membership page.
FEATURED BOOK
Edited by Oscar Wilde, Woman’s World showcases a wide-ranging selection of articles on women in politics, education, literature, and the arts, many unseen since their original publication in the 1880s. Illustrated throughout and introduced by Eleanor Fitzsimons, this edition explores the magazine’s significance within Wilde’s career and its place in the history of women’s writing and rights.
Available as a digital edition.
Price range: £15.00 through £35.00
READ MORE
Learn and Celebrate
The Oscar Wilde Society's annual general meeting will be held September 4, followed by a talk from Whistler biographer Daniel E. Sutherland.
Read more
The Oscar Wilde Society will host its annual birthday dinner on 16 October 2026 at The Athenaeum in London.
Read more
You can now explore each edition of The Wildean on our website.
You can now purchase and download issues of Intentions, the Oscar Wilde Society's illustrated quarterly newsletter.
Rob Marland explains the troubled history of Wilde's flop 'Vera; or, The Nihilists'
The winners of the sixth Wilde Wit competition have been chosen! This competition was hosted by the Oscar Wilde Society in partnership with The Oldie and the Decadence Research Centre at Goldsmiths University. We received more than 400 entries this year, which the Society’s committee narrowed down to a shortlist of 27 entries. More than 100 Society members voted to determine the winners.
First place – Amanda Parr. Amanda wins a signed copy of After Oscar by Merlin Holland. Here is Gyles Brandreth, hon. President of the Oscar Wilde Society, reading Amanda’s entry.
Second place – Robert Eddison. Robert wins a copy of Articles from The Woman’s World, Edited by Oscar Wilde. Vanessa Heron, the Society’s chairman, reads Robert’s entry.
Third place – Tomasutti Alessandro. Tomasutti wins a copy of Oscar Wilde’s First Tragedy: The Composition, Production, and Reception of Vera; or, The Nihilists by Rob Marland. Stephen Fry, hon. Patron of the Society, reads Tomasutti’s entry.
Darcy’s Choice award – Eino Uusilehto. Eino wins a year’s membership in the Oscar Wilde Society. The award is chosen by Darcy Alexander Corstorphine, the three-time former contest winner, who reads Eino’s entry.
Here is the shortlist, determined by the committee of the Oscar Wilde Society. These entries demonstrate the remarkable variety of the submissions, from humorous to profound.
It is not what one has done that ruins one’s reputation, but what one is suspected of enjoying. — Amanda Parr
To fall in love is human; to remain there is laziness. — Amanda Parr
It is best to humbly regard yourself as more important than others. — Gia Lee
Even the most beautiful eyes cannot unsee the hideous. — Angela Deazeley-Zuluaga
Wit is the art of being incredibly rude about people who thoroughly deserve it. — Anthony Bennett
One can only admit guilt when one no longer feels it. — Anthony Bennett
I love to give advice; it is the sincerest form of insult. — Anthony Bennett
We have triumphed, now we may finally die. — Alexis Blacksmith
All aphorisms are true, except this one. — Dr. Bob Turvey
I find it easy to love my enemies; it is my friends I cannot bear. — Charles van Heusen
She’s just a shadow of her former wealth. — Colin Mayo
Working from home is invariably a contradiction in terms. — Brian Mitchenere
Revenge is a dish best served eternally. — Eino Uusilehto
Luck is nothing but chaos with a touch of lipstick. — Francesco Sarti
The most exquisite beauty of life lies in the sweet sorrow of art. — Hocine Hakem
Anyone who describes life as a journey is going nowhere. — Webster
All-black outfits are not a failure of imagination — they are the conquest of it. — Hosannah Choi
One always forgives a liar — especially when their confession contains a lie even better than the truth. — Amalia Dolores
Work is the curse of the dreaming classes. — Sarah Egan
People can believe anything provided it’s not true. — Simon Scarratt
Always spread the truth and it will soon become a rumour. — Simon Scarratt
It’s devilishly hard to be angelic all of the time. — Susan Norvill
Can I keep a secret? Only from myself. — Trevor Johnson
Better to do nothing than something that merely resembles it. — GIuseppe Grieco
Congratulations to this year’s extremely witty people! And thank you to everyone who entered this year. Your way with words has gladdened our hearts, and would undoubtedly have made Oscar smile.