For a moment, he thought of praying that the horrible sympathy that existed between him and the picture might cease. It had changed in answer to a prayer; perhaps in answer to a prayer it might remain unchanged. And yet who, that knew anything about Life, would surrender the chance of remaining always young, however fantastic that chance might be, or with what fateful consequences it might be fraught?
– Oscar Wilde
The Picture of Dorian Gray, Chapter 8. Dorian considers praying to undo the connection between his soul and his portrait, which has altered to reflect the growing ugliness of his soul, while he stays in the bloom of youth. But he quickly dismisses this idea, choosing to remain young and beautiful instead. With a touch of dramatic irony, he says that anyone who knew anything about life would make the same choice – Dorian is too young and inexperienced to weigh up the cost of making that choice.