The Picture of Dorian Gray Friendship Quotes Page 1
Citations follow this format: (Chapter.Paragraph)
| Quote #1 "I make a great difference between people. I choose my friends for their good looks, my acquaintances for their good characters, and my enemies for their good intellects. A man cannot be too careful in the choice of his enemies. I have not got one who is a fool. They are all men of some intellectual power, and consequently they all appreciate me. Is that very vain of me? I think it is rather vain." (1.18) |
Lord Henry's view on other people is basically summed up here: he's only interested in what other people can contribute to his life, not to building real relationships.
| Quote #2 He had known Basil Hallward for months, but the friendship between them had never altered him. Suddenly there had come some one across his life who seemed to have disclosed to him life's mystery. And, yet, what was there to be afraid of? He was not a schoolboy or a girl. It was absurd to be frightened. (II-16) |
Dorian's understanding of friendship is starting to change. He wonders what this strange new acquaintance (Lord Henry) will do to him, and he already starts to feel himself on the brink of some transformation.
| Quote #3 "You are glad you have met me, Mr. Gray," said Lord Henry, looking at him. |
Friendship, to Lord Henry, is certainly not a matter of loyalty – it's a matter of enjoyment, and living for the moment. This is fairly representative of his whole approach to life, not just relationships.
