Society – civilized society, at least – is never very ready to believe anything to the detriment of those who are both rich and fascinating. It feels instinctively that manners are of more importance than morals, and, in its opinion, the highest respectability is of much less value than the possession of a good chef.
– Oscar Wilde
The Picture of Dorian Gray, Chapter 11. In this passage Wilde lashes out at the hypocrisy of Victorian high society. Amid the swirling rumors about Dorian’s sordid behavior his great wealth provides for him a protective shield. For this society is slow to believe anything bad about people like Dorian who are "both rich and fascinating." Manners are regarded as more important than morals. The rest of this passage suggests that what makes good art also makes for a good society and insincerity even may be good thing: "And, after all, it is a very poor consolation to be told that the man who has given one a bad dinner, or poor wine, is irreproachable in his private life. Even the cardinal virtues cannot atone for half-cold entrées, as Lord Henry remarked once, in a discussion on the subject; and there is possibly a good deal to be said for his view. For the canons of good society are, or should be, the same as the canons of art. Form is absolutely essential to it. It should have the dignity of a ceremony, as well as its unreality, and should combine the insincere character of a romantic play with the wit and beauty that make such plays delightful to us. Is insincerity such a terrible thing? I think not. It is merely a method by which we can multiply our personalities."