A Few Choice Words

Thank heavens all my own books are banned. If they weren't, and if people could see for themselves
the trash that was in them, would I be invited to any more poetry-readings?

Flann O'Brien (Myles na gCopaleen), At War

No book was ever worth the writing that wasn't done with the attitude
that "this ain't what you rung for, Jack - but it's what you're damned well getting."

Nelson Algren, Nonconformity

I didn't really care whether or not they believed me, I just liked to tell the stories.
I never knew what I was going to say, and even then the nicest audience I could imagine
was a pretty girl who didn't quite know what to make of me.

Barry Gifford, The Phantom Father

I have behaved very ill; said I within myself; but I have only just set out upon my travels;
and shall learn better manners as I get along.

Laurence Sterne (Yorick), A Sentimental Journey Through France and Italy

Whoever achieves perfect balance is too close to God to be an artist.

Pedro Juan Gutierrez (Pedro Juan), Dirty Havana Trilogy

The emperor harangued him thus
"Why are you a robber on the high seas?"
To which the other answered
"Why do you call me a robber?"
Because I'm seen marauding about
In a tiny little skiff?
If I could arm myself like you
Like you I'd be an emperor."

Francois Villon, The Testament

Every one suspects himself of at least one of the cardinal virtues,
and this is mine: I am one of the few honest people that I have ever known.

F. Scott Fitzgerald (Nick Carraway), The Great Gatsby

Then it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, 'ow's yer soul?"
But it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll.

Rudyard Kipling, "Tommy"

Like soldiers in the field drummer boys must also die.

Th' Legendary Shack*Shakers, "County of Graves"

He began to realize what the criminal class knows so well,
the impossibility of explaining anything to a man with power.

Graham Greene, Our Man in Havana

This is at the midnight of everything.

J.P. Donleavy (Sebastian Dangerfield), The Ginger Man

There were noises of key-jangling and door-banging. I hoped they would open my door.
Even if they were distributing nothing better than kicks or thumps, I'd prefer not to be left out,
in my cold shroud of solitude. Fighting is better than loneliness.

Brendan Behan, Borstal Boy

I'd feel better if I could only believe something of what I've written down here.
But I swear I can't believe a single word of it. That is, I believe it in a way, but at the same time,
I feel like I'm lying like a son of a bitch.

Fyodor Dostoevsky, Notes from Underground

For the world is Hell, and men are on the one hand the tormented souls and on the other the devils in it.

Arthur Schopenhauer, "On the Suffering of the World"

Uncle Edouard said, be always handsome witty and brave. To police and lawyers and many others too,
my dear boy, make no sound that can be used against you. Try never to teach the world a lesson,
for they will forget it within the week. Be honest till the temptation comes to tell the truth.
Then dear boy it is time, believe me, to say nothing.


J.P. Donleavy (Balthazar), The Beastly Beatitudes of Balthazar B

Any place is a good place to eat when one is young and hungry, and not burdened with money.

Jack Black, You Can't Win