"It is better to be beautiful than to be good. But... it is better to be good than to be ugly"

This quote by Oscar Wilde is a discourse on the superficiality of culture. Wilde is suggesting that it is more crucial to be gorgeous than to be good, as elegance is valued much more highly than morality. However, he also recognizes that it is better to be good than to be unsightly, as principles is still more essential than physical look. This quote highlights the importance of both elegance as well as principles in culture, and also exactly how they are both valued in different ways. Wilde is suggesting that elegance is much more extremely treasured than morality, but that morality is still essential. He is additionally suggesting that elegance is not the only point that matters, which principles needs to not be overlooked. This quote is a pointer that elegance and morality are both important, and that neither should be ignored.