Dorian Gray drew a long breath. The colour came back to his cheeks, and a smile played about his lips. The peril was over. He was safe for the time. Yet he could not help feeling infinite pity for the painter who had just made this strange confession to him, and wondered if he himself would ever be so dominated by the personality of a friend. Lord Henry had the charm of being very dangerous. But that was all. He was too clever and too cynical to be really fond of. Would there ever be some one who would fill him with a strange idolatry? Was that one of the things that life had in store?
– Oscar Wilde
The Picture of Dorian Gray, Chapter 9. When Basil confesses the reason that he refused to exhibit Dorian’s picture – he worshipped the beautiful young man – Dorian is at once intrigued and filled with pity for his friend. He labels Basil’s infatuation with him a "strange idolatry" and wonders if he would ever feel the same way towards a friend. Lord Henry is immediately ruled out because Dorian thinks that he is too clever and cynical and clever to be really fond of.