Sometimes a simple quote speaks volumes about the culture and beliefs of a particular country. Here is a collection of such famous, funny, and meaningful Irish quotes that will help you know more about Ireland and Irish people.
‘Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.’
― Alex Levine
The Irish are known for their humor, wit, and strong character. There have been several notable Irish writers and authors whose contribution to literature is simply remarkable. Their witty and meaningful quotes are sure to make you laugh and think at the same time.
Here are famous quotes by famous Irish people, about the Irish people, their culture, their thoughts, etc. Also mentioned here are some of the most popular Irish proverbs and blessings.
Irish Quotes about Life
A best friend is like a four leaf clover: hard to find and lucky to have.
― Anonymous
Nature magically suits a man to his fortunes, by making them the fruit of his character.
― Ralph Waldo Emerson
There are only two tragedies in life: one is not getting what one wants, and the other is getting it.
― Oscar Wilde
The more I see of the moneyed classes, the more I understand the guillotine!
― George Bernard Shaw
The Irish seem to have more fire about them than the Scots.
― Sean Connery
A wish that every day for you will be happy from the start and may you always have good luck and a song within your heart.
― Irish Blessing
The Irish do not want anyone to wish them well; they want everyone to wish their enemies ill.
― Harold Nicolson
We are ready to die and shall die cheerfully and proudly, you must not grieve for all of this.
― Padraig Pearse
May the roof above us never fall in.
And may the friends gathered below it never fall out.
― Irish Blessing
When Irish eyes are smiling, watch your step.
― Gerald Kersh
The Irish are a very fair people, they never speak well of one another.
― Samuel Johnson
The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself.
― George Bernard Shaw
A gentleman is one who never hurts anyone’s feelings unintentionally.
― Oscar Wilde
Making peace, I have found, is much harder than making war.
― Gerry Adams
One of the very best rules of conversation is to never say anything which any of the company wish had been left unsaid.
― Jonathan Swift
A life making mistakes is not only more honorable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing at all.
― George Bernard Shaw
Though the pen is mightier than the sword, the sword speaks louder and stronger at any given moment.
― Leonard Wibberley
Irish Proverbs and Sayings
There are only two kinds of people in the world, The Irish and those who wish they were.
― Irish saying
Always remember to forget, the friends that proved untrue. But never forget to remember those that have stuck by you!
― Irish proverb
Irish diplomacy is the ability to tell a man to go to hell so that he looks forward to making the trip.
― Irish saying
The future is not set, there is no fate but what we make for ourselves.
― Irish proverb
You’ve got to do your own growing, no matter how tall your grandfather was!
― Irish proverb
Do not resent growing old. Many are denied the privilege.
― Irish proverb
A quarrel is like buttermilk: once it’s out of the churn, the more you shake it, the more sour it grows.
― Irish proverb
Mothers hold their children’s hands for just a little while…
And their hearts forever.
― Irish proverb
‘Tis better to buy a small bouquet and give to your friend this very day,
Than a bushel of roses white and red to lay on his coffin after he’s dead.
― Irish proverb
Famous Irish Love Quotes
I can resist everything but temptation.
― Oscar Wilde
There is nothing half so sweet in life as love’s young dreams.
― Thomas Moore
First love is only a little foolishness and a lot of curiosity.
― George Bernard Shaw
I have spread my dreams beneath your feet;
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.
― W.B. Yeats
When one is in love, one always begins by deceiving one’s self, and one always ends by deceiving others. That is what the world calls a romance.
― Oscar Wilde
Funny Irish Quotes
The play was a great success but the audience was a disaster.
― Oscar Wilde
Here’s to our wives and girlfriends: May they never meet!
― Groucho Marx
Drink is the curse of the land. It makes you fight with your neighbor. It makes you shoot at your landlord and it makes you miss him!
― Irish proverb
In heaven there is no beer… That’s why we drink ours here!
― Anonymous
The problem with some people is that when they aren’t drunk, they’re sober.
― W. B. Yeats
All the world’s a stage and most of us are desperately unrehearsed.
― Sean O’Casey
Every absurdity has a champion to defend it.
― Oliver Goldsmith
But the greatest love: the love above all loves,
Even greater than that of a mother…
Is the tender, passionate, undying love,
Of one beer drunken slob for another.
― Irish Ballad
You can use these quotes for toasts or for statuses and cards. Lastly, here is one of the best Irish saying ever:
If you’re lucky enough to be Irish, then you’re lucky enough!
