Christopher Columbus, as everyone knows, is honored by posterity because he was the last to discover America.

When the short days of winter came, dusk fell before we had well eaten our dinners. When we met in the street the houses had grown sombre. The space of sky above us was the colour of ever-changing violet and towards it the lamps of the street lifted their feeble lanterns. The cold air stung us and we played till our bodies glowed. Our shouts echoed in the silent street.

If Ireland is to become a new Ireland she must first become European.

You can still die when the sun is shining.

The swift December dusk had come tumbling clownishly after its dull day and, as he stared through the dull square of the window of the schoolroom, he felt his belly crave for its food. He hoped there would be stew for dinner, turnips and carrots and bruised potatoes and fat mutton pieces to be ladled out in thick peppered flourfattened sauce. Stuff it into you, his belly counselled him.

I am tomorrow, or some future day, what I establish today. I am today what I established yesterday or some previous day.

To learn one must be humble. But life is the great teacher.