Vol. 06 · Misquoted ·Book ·300 of 348
"There's no such thing as bad publicity. — Oscar Wilde"
They never said that.
What people say
"There's no such thing as bad publicity. — Oscar Wilde"
What was actually said
The only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about. — Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray (1890). Oscar Wilde (via Lord Henry) — The Picture of Dorian Gray (1890)
Why it stuck
Wilde's version is sharper and more specific. The simplified misquote is sometimes also attributed to P.T. Barnum, with no primary source.
Know another line by heart?
Play the duel and see how many you can spot. Or browse the whole shelf.