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Quotes by Irish Authors


"What pisses me off is when I've got seven or eight record company fat pig men sitting there telling me what to wear."

"When you see something, it can't be unseen. When you hear a sound, it can never be unheard. I know, deep down, that this evening I have learned something that can never be unlearned. And the part of my world that is altered will never be the same."

"I'm trying to make some sense out of the phrase "Everything happens for a reason," and I think I've figured out what the reason is - to pissed me off."

"FatherMichael:OK we should get on with this; I don't want to be late for my 2 o'clock. First I have to ask, is there anyone in here who thinks there is any reason why these two should not be married?LonelyLady:Yes.SureOne:I could give more than one reason.Buttercup:Hell yes.SoOverHim:DON'T DO IT!"

"She held out a small voice recorder. 'By the way, could you describe exactly how you felt at the moment of impact? I'm writing this short story--'Put that away, Hazel,' hissed Mam. 'The poor boy is in pain.'Hazel persisted. 'Would that be a white-hot pain? Or more of a dull throbbing pain?"

"Tea? At the beach? No time for luxuries, Holly. There is important work to be done. He winked at Butler.'Are you sure you're at the library? I thought I heard water.Artemis smiled, enjoying the exchange. 'Water? Surely not. The only thing flowing here is information.'Are you grinning, Artemis? For some reason I get the feeling that you're wearing that smug smile of yours."


"I must be happy, he said, it is less pleasant than I should have thought."

"Thought is the thought of thought. Tranquil brightness. The soul is in a manner all that is: the soul is the form of forms. Tranquillity sudden, vast, candescent: form of forms."

"I played trombone for 10 minutes, and then I was in an accordion band in school for even less."

"Who would not rather have the fame of Archimedes than that of his conqueror Marcellus?"

"If somebody on this team actually gets to first base, I'll stand there naked."

"Well, I think I've made 44 films and only like four times I've played real characters I'm just drawn to people who have a pioneer spirit, this extraordinary energy and commitment to their cause."

"Our soldiers and their families are benefiting. They deserve good, quality housing and they need it."

"The innocent are so few that two of them seldom meet - when they do meet, their victims lie strewn all round."

"You can't evoke great spirits and eat plums at the same time."

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

"In fact, I would defend to the death their right to express a different point of view."


"I loved being behind the scenes and finding out how they make movies."

"From the moment this war began, there was, for this state, only one policy possible, neutrality."

"We cannot afford idleness, waste or inefficiency."

"Artemis: 'Right, brothers. Onward. Imagine yourself seated at a cafe in Montmartre.'Myles: 'In Paris.'Artemis: 'Yes, Paris. And try as you will, you cannot attract the waiter's attention. What do you do?'Beckett: 'Umm...tell Butler to jump-jump-jump on his head?'Myles: 'I agree with simple-toon.'Artemis: 'No! You simply raise one finger and say clearly 'ici, garcon.'Beckett: 'Itchy what?"

"Nobility, without virtue, is a fine setting without a gem."

"The civil rights movement in the United States was about the same thing, about equality of treatment for all sections of the people, and that is precisely what our movement was about."

"One enemy can do more hurt than ten friends can do good."

"God forbid that any book should be banned. The practice is as indefensible as infanticide."

"I'm in this position where I can afford to wait, I'm lucky enough to be financially secure to not have to do anything that's thrown at me. You know the next couple of jobs are going to be pretty crucial in terms of how you're perceived by people. So I'm just waiting."

"We can demonstrate, by our own example, how E.U. freedoms, including the freedom of nationals of other E.U. countries to come and work here, has enabled us to expand our economy."

"It would be unfair to expect other people to be as brilliant as oneself."


"Christ beside me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ within me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me."

"Friendship isn't a science mudboy. Just do what you think is right."

"Who are you?' he asked.I am the future queen of this world, at the very least. You may refer to me as Mistress Koboi for the next five minutes. After that you may refer to me as Aaaaarrrrgh, hold your throat, die screaming, and so on."
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