Rubyryan > Rubyryan's Quotes

“After all the world is indeed beautiful and if we were any other creature than man we might be continuously happy in it.”
― Sebastian Barry, The Secret Scripture

“There is such solace in the mere sight of water. It clothes us delicately in its blowing salt and scent, gossamer items that medicate the poor soul”
― Sebastian Barry, On Canaan's Side

“Tears have a better character cried alone. Pity can sometimes be more wolf than dog.”
― Sebastian Barry, On Canaan's Side

“The terror and hurt in my story happened because when I was young I thought others were the authors of my fortune or misfortune; I did not know that a person could hold up a wall made of imaginary bricks and mortar against the horrors and cruel, dark tricks of time that assail us, and be the author therefore of themselves.”
― Sebastian Barry, The Secret Scripture

“It is always worth itemizing happiness, there is so much of the other thing in a life, you had better put down the markers of happiness while you can.”
― Sebastian Barry, The Secret Scripture

“..the best of life is life lived quietly, where nothing happens but our calm journey through the day, where change is imperceptible and the precious life is everything.”
― John McGahern, All Will Be Well: A Memoir

“Oh give us a grim Tuesday of December, with the hardwind taking schleps at our heads, and the rain coming slantways off that hideous fucking ocean, and the grapes nearly frozen off us, and dirty ice caked up top of the puddles, and we are not happy, exactly, but satisfied in our despair.”
― Kevin Barry, City of Bohane

“Tricky the paths a long love might follow, like the spiral down twists of a raindrop on a windowpane.”
― Kevin Barry, City of Bohane