Exercise Quotes
To get back my youth I would do anything in the world, except take exercise, get up early, or be respectable.
"To get back my youth I would do anything in the world, except take exercise, get up early, or be respectable."— Oscar Wilde
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Meaning of this quote
Lord Henry declares a desire for youth while refusing the practical changes that might accompany it. The paradox exposes indulgence behind an apparently sincere wish.
Key takeaway:
Notice whether a desired outcome is matched by willingness to act.
Origin of the quote
The Picture of Dorian Gray (1891), Chapter XIX, Lord Henry.
Who actually said this?
VerifiedThe sentence is present in the dialogue. It is a fictional character’s comic declaration, not a record of Wilde’s own routine.
