Brendan Francis Aidan Behan (9th February, 1923 – 20th March, 1964) was an Irish writer, novelist, poet and playwright, writing in both English and Irish. Behan is widely regarded as one of the great Irish writers and poets of all time.
Born in Dublin to a staunchly republican family, Behan became a member of the Irish Republic Army’s youth division at the age of fourteen, and joined the main IRA at 16, leading to him serving time in borstal and prison in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
However, it was this patriotism and growing up in a household with a strong emphasis on Irish history, through literary and patriotic ballads, and the time he spent in prison that made him determined to learn the Irish language, and gave him the love of literature and language that made him so successful.
Today we’re marking the day with some of our favourite quotes from the author, from some of his best known works and personal interviews.
“I’m a drinker with writing problems.”
“They took away our land, our language, and our religion; but they could never harness our tongues…”
“It’s not that the Irish are cynical. It’s rather that they have a wonderful lack of respect for everything and everybody.”
The big difference between sex for money and sex for free is that sex for money usually costs a lot less.
A man is already halfway in love with any woman who listens to him.
Every man, through fear, mugs his aspirations a dozen times a day.
One drink is too many for me and a thousand not enough.
If you greatly desire something, have the guts to stake everything on obtaining it.
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Dear Sirs, I find your page Always interesting. As you know I live in Italy and am Italian. But, as a former English Language teacher I continue reading in English. I also have book s from England with a prepaid card chen I read about something interesting and new.
Thank you so much to let me read your page, which is the first thong I do every morning!
Yours faithfully Marisa Galli