Brendan Behan

"I've never understood why people fear death when life gives you so much to fear."

"Writing is the best way to talk without being interrupted."

"Dublin's a grand city when you've got the price of a pint."

"They say money is the root of all evil, but I've never had enough to find out."

"I've always been a republican in the best sense of the word."

"A Dubliner will tell you anything - whether you want to hear it or not."

"The greatest gift you can give someone is your time."

"I never wanted to be respectable - respectability is for people with nothing to hide."

"Art is the only thing that matters in life - everything else is just distraction."

"You can't make an omelet without breaking eggs, and you can't change the world without breaking some heads."

"The worst crime is not theft or violence - it's boring someone with your conversation."

"I've learned more from my mistakes than from my successes."

"A man who doesn't know how to drink is a man who doesn't know how to live."

"The truth is often stranger than fiction - and usually more offensive."

"I've always believed that a good story is worth more than a good deed."

"Love is the only thing that makes life worth living."

"The Irish have a way of turning tragedy into comedy - it's a survival mechanism."

"Power corrupts, but lack of power corrupts absolutely."

"I've never understood the point of accumulating money if you can't enjoy it."

"A good conversation is like a good whiskey - it should be savored slowly."

"The greatest adventure is to be alive and conscious of it."

"I've always had more respect for outlaws than for law-keepers."

"Imagination is more important than knowledge - knowledge is limited to the past."

"The only way to deal with fear is to face it head-on."

"I've never been one to follow the rules - rules are for people without imagination."

"A man without a sense of humor is a man without a soul."

"The world would be a better place if people spent more time laughing."

"I've always believed that people are fundamentally good - they just make bad choices."

"The only true wealth is having people who love you."

"I've learned that patience is a virtue, but I've never been very virtuous."