A famous quote atributed to Oscar Wilde is that, when he was asked by a customs officer in New York if he had anything to declare, he answered:
I have nothing to declare except my genius.
Does this have any corroboration?
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Heh, yes I was wondering the same thing. Why would someone so "genius" say something so arrogant? And who quoted him on it?– JSiderisApr 23, 2012 at 23:29
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16@Bizorke-- Being a genius does not necessarily connote humility.– mmrApr 24, 2012 at 1:47
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3@mmr True, but being a smartass does.– JSiderisApr 24, 2012 at 2:01
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This somehow reminds me of the fantastic novel by Luigi Pirandello "La patente" (The license).– nicoApr 24, 2012 at 6:53
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1Perfectly in sync with Wilde's prose.– user11643Jan 16, 2017 at 16:38
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1 Answer
'Transatlantic Voyages and Sociology: The Migration and Development of Ideas' By Cherry Schrecker (Google Books) gives the date as 2 January 1882, and the actual quote as
I have nothing to declare but my genius
(My emphasis)
Schrecker cites the book 'Oscar Wilde' by Richard Ellman (1988) and another source as 'Bradbury 1995', but having no access the the actual Schrecker book, this reference remains sketchy.
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