Irish Quotes

The Irish are known for being wise, comical, clever, and revolutionary. This collection of 42 Irish quotes represents all of these unforgettable qualities of Irelands people.

A man's errors are his portals of discovery. James Joyce
Women and birds are able to see without turning their heads, and that is indeed a necessary provision for they are both surrounded by enemies. James Stevens
What do I know of man's destiny? I could tell you more about radishes. Samuel Beckett
Some faults are so closely allied to qualities that it is difficult to weed out the vice without eradicating the virtue. Oliver Goldsmith
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. Samuel Beckett
It's not that the Irish are cynical. It's rather that they have a wonderful lack of respect for everything and everybody. Brendan Behan
Wealth often takes away chances from men as well as poverty. There is none to tell the rich to go on striving, for a rich man makes the law that hallows and hollows his own life. Sean O'Casey
Nothing can cure the soul but the senses, just as nothing can cure the senses but the soul. Oscar Wilde
Come live in my heart and pay no rent. Samuel Lover
Every absurdity has a champion to defend it. Oliver Goldsmith
There is nothing half so sweet in life as love's young dreams. Thomas Moore
The first blow is half the battle. Oliver Goldsmith
Ireland is where strange tales begin and happy endings are possible. Charles Haughey
What we truly and earnestly aspire to be, that in some sense we are. The mere aspiration, by changing the frame of the mind, for the moment realizes itself. Anne Jameson
A man is original when he speaks the truth that has always been known to all good men. Patrick Kavanagh
What is mind? No matter. What is matter? Never mind. George Berkeley
When once the itch of literature comes over a man, nothing can cure it but the scratching of a pen. Samuel Lover
The world is seldom what it seems; to man, who dimly sees, realities appear as dreams, and dreams realities. Thomas Moore
Nothing is funnier than unhappiness, I grant you that. Yes, yes, it's the most comical thing in the world. Samuel Beckett
Earth hath no sorrow that heaven cannot heal. Thomas Moore
Here there is no hope, and consequently no duty, no work, nothing to be gained by praying, nothing to be lost by doing what you like. Hell, in short, is a place where you have nothing to do but amuse yourself. George Bernard Shaw
Necessity is the mother of invention. Jonathan Swift
Imagination is the beginning of creation. You imagine what you desire; you will what you imagine; and at last you create what you will. George Bernard Shaw

No man, however great, is known to everybody and no man, however solitary, is known to nobody. Thomas Moore
An acquaintance that begins with a compliment is sure to develop into a real friendship. Oscar Wilde
Beauty is all very well at first sight; but whoever looks at it when it has been in the house three days? George Bernard Shaw
The lack of belief is a defect that ought to be concealed when it cannot be overcome. Jonathan Swift
If the whole human race lay in one grave, the epitaph on its headstone might well be: 'It seemed like a good idea at the time.' Rebecca West
I have never seen a situation so dismal that a policeman couldn't make it worse. Brendan Behan
We are so fond on one another because our ailments are the same. Jonathan Swift
Do not wait to strike till the iron is hot; but make it hot by striking. William Butler Yeats
One enemy can do more hurt than ten friends can do good. Jonathan Swift
I love acting. It is so much more real than life. Oscar Wilde
Power is no blessing in itself, except when it is used to protect the innocent. Jonathan Swift
Money is the most important thing in the world. It represents health, strength, honor, generosity, and beauty as conspicuously as the want of it represents illness, weakness, disgrace, meanness, and ugliness. George Bernard Shaw
Journalism is the ability to meet the challenge of filling space. Rebecca West
Bigamy is having one wife too many. Monogamy is the same. Oscar Wilde
The soul is born old but grows young. That is the comedy of life. And the body is born young and grows old. That is life's tragedy. Oscar Wilde
Nothing is so hard for those who abound in riches to conceive how others can be in want. Jonathan Swift
The vote means nothing to women. We should be armed. Edna O'Brien
Plain women are always jealous of their husbands. Beautiful women never are. They are always so occupied with being jealous of other women's husbands. Oscar Wilde
The trouble with man is twofold. He cannot learn the truths which are too complicated; he forgets truths which are too simple. Rebecca West