Oscar Wilde Quote

A man whose desire is to be something separate from himself, to be a member of Parliament, or a successful grocer, or a prominent solicitor, or a judge, or something equally tedious, invariably succeeds in being what he wants to be. That is his punishment. Those who want a mask have to wear it.

The Complete Works of Oscar Wilde: A house of pomegranates. De profundis (ed. 1905)