I had to get rid of any idea of hell or any idea of the afterlife. That's what held me, kept me down. So now I just have nothing but contempt for the institution of the church.
Frank McCourtThey can afford to smile because they all have teeth so dazzling if they dropped them in the snow they'd be lost forever.
Frank McCourtI just have to proceed as usual. No matter what happens, nothing helps with the writing of the next book.
Frank McCourtIf you were mean to your parents, they'd give you a good belt in the gob and send you flying across the room.
Frank McCourtI don't absolve my father completely of his responsibility for what he did to us I feel compassion, maybe. He had his demons. But I still can't understand how a man can walk away from children. And leave them to starve, as we nearly did, if it wasn't for my mother going out and begging.
Frank McCourt