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Lord Henry stroked his pointed brown beard and tapped the toe of

his patent-leather boot with a tasselled ebony cane. "How English

you are Basil! That is the second time you have made that

observation. If one puts forward an idea to a true

Englishman-always a rash thing to do-he never dreams of

considering whether the idea is right or wrong. The only thing he

considers of any importance is whether one believes it oneself.

Now, the value of an idea has nothing whatsoever to do with the

sincerity of the man who expresses it. Indeed, the probabilities

are that the more insincere the man is, the more purely

intellectual will the idea be, as in that case it will not be

coloured by either his wants, his desires, or his prejudices.

However, I don't propose to discuss politics, sociology, or

metaphysics with you. I like persons better than principles, and

I like persons with no principles better than anything else in

the world. Tell me more about Mr. Dorian Gray. How often do you

see him?"