Jack. Is that clever?

Algernon. It is perfectly phrased! and quite as true as any
observation in civilised life should be.

Jack. I am sick to death of cleverness. Everybody is clever
nowadays. You can't go anywhere without meeting clever people. The
thing has become an absolute public nuisance. I wish to goodness we
had a few fools left.

Algernon. We have.

Jack. I should extremely like to meet them. What do they talk
about?

Algernon. The fools? Oh! about the clever people, of course.

Jack. What fools!

Algernon. By the way, did you tell Gwendolen the truth about your
being Ernest in town, and Jack in the country?

Jack. [In a very patronising manner.] My dear fellow, the truth
isn't quite the sort of thing one tells to a nice, sweet, refined
girl. What extraordinary ideas you have about the way to behave to
a woman!

Algernon. The only way to behave to a woman is to make love to her,
if she is pretty, and to some one else, if she is plain.