There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about.
– Oscar Wilde
The Picture of Dorian Gray, Chapter 1. Wilde’s novel is full of delicious epigrams, this being one of his more witty ones. Lord Henry says the line to Basil because he thinks the artist is "silly" not to put his portrait of Dorian on show. Painters will do anything in the world to gain a reputation, but as soon as they have one, they seem to want to throw it away, Lord Henry remarks.