Who said “The true perfection of man lies not in what man has, but in what man is.”?

Verified

Oscar Wilde. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceThe Soul of Man Under Socialism (1891)

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Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: The Soul of Man Under Socialism (1891).

APA

Wilde, O. (n.d.). The true perfection of man lies not in what man has, but in what man is. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/32238-the-true-perfection-of-man-lies-not-in/

MLA

Wilde, Oscar. “The true perfection of man lies not in what man has, but in what man is.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/32238-the-true-perfection-of-man-lies-not-in/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Wilde, Oscar. “The true perfection of man lies not in what man has, but in what man is.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/32238-the-true-perfection-of-man-lies-not-in/.

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