Pocket Irish Wit & Wisdom: Say little but say it well

by Fiona Biggs

The Irish famously have a way with words and thisbeautifully illustrated selection includes the best of Irish witand wisdom to amuse and entertain on any occasion.Enjoy the stunning wit of some of Ireland's finestwriters, as well as words of unparalleled wisdom that are woven into the fabric of the language of this island.

256 pages, Hardcover

First published January 29, 2016

Reviews

[Jess castellanos lobaton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a souvenir from Ireland. A friend thought of me :)

I didn't know what to expect from this but I ended reading it this year and I am pretty happy after all.

In this book you will find some famous quotes, popular sayings and also some biographies of Irish writers/artist. Here are some of the phrases I'd like to remember in the future, just in case ;p

*May you live all the days of your life. -Jonathan Swift.

*Irish beliefs:
-Babies born at night bef. midnight would be able to see ghosts.
-Babies born on May Day, lucky through their lives.
-3 People born in the same month, very unlucky.
-Baby sick after born, thought to be a challenge swapped by the fairies for a healthy child.
-Tying a red ribbon on baby's ankle or wrist for protection.
-Salt under the cradle for protection.
-Empty cradles never to e rocked, it was thought to curse the baby or the mother.

*When Saint Patrick first visited Ireland there was no word in the Irish Language to express sobriety.

*A true Irishman is a fellow who would trample over the bodies of 12 naked woman to reach a pint of porter. -Sean O'Faolain.

*In this world there are only 2 tragedies: one is not getting what one wants, and the other is getting it. -Oscar Wilde

*We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars. -Oscar Wilde

*Doing what needs to be done may not make you happy, but it will make you great. -George Bernanrd Shaw

*No yesterdays are ever wasted for those who give themselves to today. -Brendan Behan

*Succes does not consist in naver making mistakes but in never making the same one a second time. -George Bernanrd Shaw

*Laws are like cobwebs, whish may catch small flies, but let wasps and hornets through. -Jonathan Swift

*It's better to be born lucky than to be born rich. -Irish proverb

*A poor man never lost his property. -Irish proverb

*Money borrowed is soon sorrowed. -Irish proverb

*Money is a good servant but a bad master. -Irish proverb

*Always forgive your enemies. Nothing annoys them so much. -Oscar Wilde

*I'm an atheist and I thank God for it. -George Bernard Shaw

*Some people say there is a God, others say there is no God. The truth probably lies somewhere in between. -W. B. Yeats

*Other people have a nationality. The Irish and Jews have a psychosis.

*If it was raining soup, the Irish would go out with forks.

*Vision is the art of seeig what is invisible to others.

*Succes consists of getting up just one more time than you fall. -Oliver Goldsmith

*I love every thing that is old; old friends, old times, old manners, old books & old wines. -Oliver Goldsmith

*A cynic is a man who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.

*Europeans have depth but not distance, while North Americans have distance but not depth.

*Words are the clothes that thoughts wear.

*Age makes you weaker but wiser. -Irish proverb

*You don't stop laughing when you grow old, you grow old when you stop laughing. -George Bernard Shaw

*Youth is wasted on the young. -George Bernard Shaw

*Well begun is the job half done. -Irish proverb

*Leave the bad news where you found it. -Irish proverb

*Rich bachelors should be taxed. It is not fair that some men should be happier than others. -Irish proverb

*Venus, a beautiful good-natured lady, was the goddess of love; Juno, a terrible shrew, the goddess of marriage; and they were always mortal enemies. -George Bernard Shaw

*Loneliness made me rich. Lady Gregory

*A man who says his wife can't take a joke forgets that she took him. -Oscar Wilde

*May your pockets be heavy and your heart be light,
May good luck persue you each morning and night. -Irish proverb

*The Claddagh Ring: Well known around the world as a symbol of enduring love.

*May there always be work for your hand to do;
May your purse always hold a coin or two;
May the Sun always shine on your window pane;
May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain;
May the hand of a friend always be near you,
May God fill your heart with gladness and cheer you. -Blessing.

*May youy troubles be less
and your blessings be more.
And nothing but happiness
come through your door. -Blessing.

*There is one good thing about late marriage - It doesn't last long. -Irish saying.

*May you live in heave half an hour before the devil knows your are dead. -Blessing.

*Dancing is a perpendicular expression of a horizontal desire. -George Bernard Shaw

*Those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything. -George Bernard Shaw

*Beware the horns of a bull, the heels of the horse and the smile of an Englishman. -James Joyce

*Life is too short to read a bad book. -James Joyce

[Danielle Grenier · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can honestly say that it was a lovely read. What a pleasant surprise! I've learnt a lot about Irish authors. 🙂👍🏻

[Darragh Howley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nice easy read with some funny quotes around all types of Irish occasions. Thought the biographies section at the end was good as well.