Who said “Never speak disrespectfully of Society, Algernon. Only people who can't get into it do…”?

Verified

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

SourceThe Importance of Being Earnest (1895), Lady Bracknell, Act III

Find The Importance of Being Earnest on Amazon · paid link

Evidence: Wikiquote · How we check

Source checked · Something wrong? Report a correction

Authors A–Z
“Never speak disrespectfully of Society, Algernon. Only people who can't get into it do that.”
— Oscar Wilde
VerifiedThe Importance of Being Earnest (1895), Lady Bracknell, Act III · evidenceSociety
Report

Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: The Importance of Being Earnest (1895), Lady Bracknell, Act III.

APA

Wilde, O. (n.d.). Never speak disrespectfully of Society, Algernon. Only people who can't get into it do that. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/38261-never-speak-disrespectfully-of-society-algernon-only-people/

MLA

Wilde, Oscar. “Never speak disrespectfully of Society, Algernon. Only people who can't get into it do that.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/38261-never-speak-disrespectfully-of-society-algernon-only-people/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Wilde, Oscar. “Never speak disrespectfully of Society, Algernon. Only people who can't get into it do that.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/38261-never-speak-disrespectfully-of-society-algernon-only-people/.

Related quotes

More quotes by Oscar Wilde

All 417 Oscar Wilde quotes →