Who said “When I was young I used to think that money was the most important thing in life; now…”?

Disputed

It's credited to Oscar Wilde, but no reliable source from their lifetime has been found.

What the research foundNo reliable source from Oscar Wilde's lifetime: A later first-person rewrite of a dialogue in The Picture of Dorian Gray (1891), ch. 3.

Evidence: Quote Investigator · Wikiquote · How we check

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“When I was young I used to think that money was the most important thing in life; now that I am old, I know it is.”
— Oscar Wilde
DisputedNo reliable source from Oscar Wilde's lifetime: A later first-person rewrite of a dialogue in The Picture of Dorian Gray (1891), ch. 3. · evidenceMoney
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Cite this quote

APA

“When I was young I used to think that money was the most important thing in life; now that I am old, I know it is.” [Quotation attributed to Oscar Wilde]. (n.d.). Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/29770-when-i-was-young-i-used-to-think/

MLA

“When I was young I used to think that money was the most important thing in life; now that I am old, I know it is.” Attributed to Oscar Wilde. Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/29770-when-i-was-young-i-used-to-think/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

“When I was young I used to think that money was the most important thing in life; now that I am old, I know it is.” Attributed to Oscar Wilde. Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/29770-when-i-was-young-i-used-to-think/.

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“Money begets money.”
— Italian Proverb
Original (Italian)

Danari fanno danari

VerifiedRecorded in Cassell's Book of Quotations Proverbs and Household Words: A Collection of Quotations from British and American Authors ..., p. 827 · evidenceDetails & citeMoney
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