In old times people used to try and square the circle; now they try and devise schemes for satisfying the Irish nation.

A man should be just cultured enough to be able to look with suspicion upon culture at first, not second hand.

It is not he who gains the exact point in dispute who scores most in controversy - but he who has shown the better temper.

A virtue to be serviceable must, like gold, be alloyed with some commoner, but more durable alloy.

Christ: I dislike him very much. Still, I can stand him. What I cannot stand is the wretched band of people whose profession is to hoodwink us about him.

When a man is in doubt about this or that in his writing, it will often guide him if he asks himself how it will tell a hundred years hence.

God was satisfied with his own work, and that is fatal.