And beauty is a form of genius — is higher, indeed, than genius, as it needs no explanation. It is of the great facts of the world, like sunlight, or spring-time, or the reflection in dark waters of that silver shell we call the moon. It cannot be questioned. It has its divine right of sovereignty. It makes princes of those who have it…. To me, beauty is the wonder of wonders. It is only shallow people who do not judge by appearances. The true mystery of the world is the visible, not the invisible….You have only a few years in which to live really, perfectly, and fully. When your youth goes, your beauty will go with it, and then you will suddenly discover that there are no triumphs left for you, or have to content yourself with those mean triumphs that the memory of your past will make more bitter than defeats. Every month as it wanes brings you nearer to something dreadful. Time is jealous of you, and wars against your lilies and your roses. You will become shallow, and hollow-cheeked, and dull-eyed…. Ah! realize your youth while you have it.

From “The Picture of Dorian Gray” by Oscar Wilde

This is an impressive and compelling piece of writing. Oscar Wilde makes his voice heard. His unsurpassed prose is elegant and convincing, his use of the words and the position of his verbs, magnificent. “Every month as it wanes brings you nearer to something dreadful.” Let’s discuss the message. Is Oscar Wilde  right? His ideas remain in force. If anything they have strengthened with the passage of time. Youth is revered. If you could do it, would you go back to your youth? I would. Would you do it to regain your beauty? I don’t think good looks are so important. Some degree of it helps. I agree with the author that people judge you by your appearance. I would go back to my youth to recapture the part of idealism and altruism I have lost—to recuperate the innocence. Life wears down those virtues.  Would I commit the same mistakes again? Probably so and maybe even worse.