John Steinbeck Quotes

Ireland is a series of stories that have been told to us, starting with the Irish Celtic national revival. I never believed in 'Old Ireland.' It has been made all of kitsch by the diaspora, looking back and deciding what Ireland is. Yes, it is green. Yes, it is friendly. I can't think of anything else for definite.

I think there's something about the Irish experience - that we had to have a sense of humor or die.

It is often said that in Ireland there is an excess of genius unsustained by talent; but there is talent in the tongues.

[On the Irish:] Strange race ... Don't know what they want, but want it like the devil.

I'm proud of my Irish heritage and culture and this show will feature a lot of Irish dancing.

I always gravitate towards anything from Ireland. With Irish lit, I love the use of language, but also in many instances, the Irish writers are writing about people and circumstances that I can relate to.

The Irishman in English literature may be said to have been born with an apology in his mouth.

Ireland is not at all a simple place, and in many ways it is spare and sad. It has no wealth, no power, no stability, no influence, no fashion, no size. Its only real arts are song and drama and poem. But Limerick alone has two thousand ruined castles and surely that many practicing poets.

Every publisher or agent I've ever met told me the same thing - that Irish readers don't want to read about the bad old days of the Troubles; neither do the English and Americans - they only want to read about the Ireland of The Quiet Man, when red-haired widows are riding bicycles and everyone else is on a horse.

Ireland, sir, for good or evil, is like no other place under heaven, and no man can touch its sod or breathe its air without becoming better or worse.

The great Gaels of Ireland are the men that God made mad, For all their wars are merry, and all their songs are sad.

My kids are Irish; I want them to grow up playing Gaelic football and learning Irish.

I feel more and more the time wasted that is not spent in Ireland.

I'm just a loud Irish guy.

The problem with being Irish... is having 'Riverdance' on your back. It's a burden at times.

I'm Irish as hell: Kelly on one side, Shanley on the other. My father had been born on a farm in the Irish Midlands. He and his brothers had been shepherds there, cattle and sheep, back in the early 1920s. I grew up surrounded by brogues and Irish music, but stayed away from the old country till I was over 40. I just couldn't own being Irish.

I'd never had any problem finding inspiration; Ireland was always just there, you know? All this richness of culture was there to tap into.

I can't think of anything you might say about Irish people that is absolutely true.

There's something about the Irish that is remarkable.

Irish people are educated not only about artistry but local history.

Dublin's a great place. It really is. It's a great place. And Ireland, especially, is a great place. I've realized that growing up more. I'm loving my country more as I'm getting older.

I think there is a very strong sense of Irish identity, and I think partly that's to do with the fact that we have evolved differently from Britain and other countries in Europe.

My Irish identity is important as it's a part of who I am.

I'm a typical Irishman in that I only get home for weddings and funerals.

I'm proud of my Irish heritage and culture.