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 his wants, his desires, or his prejudices.

From “The Picture of Dorian Gray,” by Oscar Wilde

With his beautiful style, Oscar Wilde knows how to look into any aspect of our life from the most unexpected point of view and arrives at a remarkable logical conclusion: “The more insincere the man is, the more purely intellectual will the idea be …”

I love the way Oscar Wilde writes. Did you notice how he reversed the subject of a sentence at the precise moment? “Will the idea be …” It sounds elegant and very Latin-like.