Irish Writers Quotes

Other people have a nationality. The Irish and the Jews have a psychosis.

I had a very happy childhood, which is unsuitable if you're going to be an Irish writer.

The mathematics clearly called for a set of underlying elementary objects-at that time we needed three types of them-elementary objects that could be combined three at a time in different ways to make all the heavy particles we knew. ... I needed a name for them and called them quarks, after the taunting cry of the gulls, "Three quarks for Muster mark," from Finnegan's Wake by the Irish writer James Joyce.

The English and Americans dislike only some Irish--the same Irish that the Irish themselves detest, Irish writers--the ones that think.

My first thought when I came here was that I understood why there are so many great Irish writers - because there is something mystical in the air. There's always this cloudy, moody sky and it's challenging.

Do not wait to strike till the iron is hot; but make it hot by striking.

I say "on principle" [regarding 'lesbian writer'] because whenever you get one of your minority labels applied, like "Irish Writer," "Canadian Writer," "Woman Writer," "Lesbian Writer" - any of those categories - you always slightly wince because you're afraid that people will think that means you're only going to write about Canada or Ireland, you know.

The big difference between sex for money and sex for free is that sex for money usually costs a lot less.

A government that robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul.

I'm an Irish Catholic and I have a long iceberg of guilt.

There is only one thing in life worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about.

I think the Irish woman was freed from slavery by bingo. They can go out now, dressed up, with their handbags and have a drink and play bingo. And they deserve it.

The Irish are a fair people: They never speak well of one another.

It's not that the Irish are cynical. It's rather that they have a wonderful lack of respect for everything and everybody.

The most important things to do in the world are to get something to eat, something to drink and somebody to love you.

Put an Irishman on the spit and you can always get another Irishman to turn him.

There is an Irish way of paying compliments as though they were irresistible truths which makes what would otherwise be an impertinence delightful.

But I, being poor, have only my dreams; I have spread my dreams under your feet; Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.

If one could only teach the English how to talk, and the Irish how to listen, society here would be quite civilized.

When anyone asks me about the Irish character, I say look at the trees. Maimed, stark and misshapen, but ferociously tenacious.

Every St. Patrick's Day every Irishman goes out to find another Irishman to make a speech to.

There is no language like the Irish for soothing and quieting.

I think being a woman is like being Irish. Everyone says you're important and nice, but you take second place all the same.

Ireland is a fruitful mother of genius, but a barren nurse.

When I die, I want to decompose in a barrel of porter and have it served in all the pubs in Dublin. I wonder would they know it was me?

The Local Paper here asked that me books be banned........THE HIGHEST PRAISE for an Irish writer.

History, Stephen said, is a nightmare from which I am trying to awake.

A man of genius makes no mistakes; his errors are volitional and are the portals of discovery.

There is no present or future-only the past, happening over and over again-now.

I only take a drink on two occasions - when I'm thirsty and when I'm not.

I have a total irreverence for anything connected with society except that which makes the roads safer, the beer stronger, the food cheaper and the old men and old women warmer in the winter and happier in the summer.

The worst thing about some men is that when they are not drunk they are sober.

Life is no brief candle to me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got a hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations.

I often quote myself. It adds spice to my conversation.

Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better.

Every action of our lives touches on some chord that will vibrate in eternity.

Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go.

A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing.

I was court-martialled in my absence, and sentenced to death in my absence, so I said they could shoot me in my absence.

Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.