There is no primary source evidence that Wilde made this statement.
One of the most celebrated quotations by anyone is the remark attributed to Oscar Wilde at New York Customs at the start of his lecture tour of America in 1882.
But what exactly did he say, and what is the source of the quotation?
For an update and a new earliest example of the quote, see the blog pages at:
https://oscarwildeinamerica.blog/2022/01/16/something-to-declare/
* See also Homage to Genius
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