That They May Face the Rising Sun Quotes

“...with a rush of feeling he felt that this must be happiness. As soon as the thought came to him, he fought it back, blaming the whiskey. The very idea was as dangerous as presumptive speech: happiness could not be sought or worried into being, or even fully grasped; it should be allowed its own slow pace so that it passes unnoticed, if it ever comes at all.”
― John McGahern, That They May Face the Rising Sun

“His abhorrence and fear of alcohol did not extend to his power as host. He kept a huge cupboard of drinks in the station house and loved to serve large measures to visiting relatives--especially those he disliked--about which there was a definite element of spreading bait for garden snails.”
― John McGahern, That They May Face the Rising Sun

“Across her face there seemed to pass many feelings and reflections: it was as if she ached to touch and gather in and make whole those scattered years of change. But how can time be gathered in and kissed? There is only flesh.”
― John McGahern, That They May Face the Rising Sun

“The days were quiet. They did not feel particularly quiet or happy but through them ran the sense, like an underground river, that there would come a time when these days would be looked back on as happiness, all that life could give of contentment and peace.”
― John McGahern, That They May Face the Rising Sun

“... and there were people wandering the town who had no people to meet, who did not want to be alone and were not noticed.”
― John McGahern, That They May Face the Rising Sun

“Have you noticed how the journey home always seems to go faster?' he asked, when the pleasure boats came into view as they crossed the Shannon by the narrow bridge at Rooskey.
'Of course,' Jamesie answered readily. 'You never know rightly what you are facing into when you're setting out. You always know the way home.”
― John McGahern, That They May Face the Rising Sun

“...with a rush of feeling he felt that this must be happiness. As soon as the thought came to him, he fought it back, blaming the whiskey. The very idea was as dangerous as presumptive speech: happiness could not be sought or worried into being, or even fully grasped; it should be allowed its own slow pace so it passes unnoticed, if it ever comes at all.”
― John McGahern, That They May Face the Rising Sun

“- Предполагам, че като легнем в гробището в Шръхон, Маргарет ще говори за нас, както ние говорим сега за татко – подхвърли Мери.
- Тя ще казва на момчето си само хубави и приятни неща. Ще му казва, Бог да ги прости, свестни хора бяха, не бяха ходили на училище и нямаха пари, и нямаха и особено възпитание, ама не бяха никак лоши. Като си припомням всичко сега, мисля, че бяха едни нормални, почтени дъртаци – обясни Джеймси.
- Няма пък! – трoпна с крак Маргарет.
- Правилно, Маргарет – каза Мери. – Все неговото да се чува. Ей го Джо, той си има образованието и е начетен мъж, не като тоя смешник горе на сеното, който дрънка за десет учени.
- Е, и докъде ме доведе моят ученост, Мери?
- До важна правителствена длъжност – изкрещя към тях Джеймси. Спряха работата, за да се насмеят до насита, после отново се извърнаха към копите.”
― John McGahern, That They May Face the Rising Sun

“- Предполагам, че трябва да се продадат или изхвърлят и да се купят нови часовници, но засега са добри за нас. – каза Джеймси суеверно.
- Да можеха да говорят, какво ли не биха разказали – добави Мери.
- Мъдри. Без крайности. Казват единствено „тик-так“. Тик-так. Необръщай внимание. Тик-так. Не говори лошо. Тик-так. Не забелязвай. Тик-так. Не се забърквай в каши. Тик-так. Забрави. Тик-так. Не настоявай. Питай „защо не“, но никога „защо“. По-умни от всички най-мъдри на света. – Той подвикна бодро, но после започна да мърмори, че никой не иска второ уиски, завъртя капачката и отнесе бутилката, без да отсипе и в собствената си чаша. – За нищо не ставате. Навремето какви хора имаше, ех, от нищо не се бояха.”
― John McGahern, That They May Face the Rising Sun