If I need money I shall write half a dozen plays next year." His words reminded me of what Goethe had said about himself: in each of the ten years he spent on his "Theory of Light" he could have written a couple of plays as good as his best.

The land of Might-have-been is peopled with these gorgeous shadow-shapes.
Oscar had already found his public, a public capable of appreciating the very best he could do.

As soon as "The Importance of Being Earnest" was produced it had an extraordinary success, and success of the best sort.

Even journalist critics had begun to cease exhibiting their own limitations in foolish fault-finding, and now imitated their betters, parroting phrases of extravagant laudation.
Oscar took the praise as he had taken the scandal and slander, with complacent superiority.

He had changed greatly and for the worse: he was growing coarser and harder every year.