"We're nothing if we're not loved. When you meet somebody who is more important to you than yourself, that has to be the most important thing in life, really. And I think we are all striving for it in different ways. I also believe very, very strongly that everybody is the hero/heroine of his/her own life. I try to make my characters kind of ordinary, somebody that anybody could be. Because we've all had loves, perhaps love and loss, people can relate to my characters"
— Maeve Binchy

"I look placid, you see, that's why people think I'm fine. Inside I worry a lot."
— Maeve Binchy (Tara Road)