Brendan Behan

From Wikiquote

Brendan Francis Behan(February 9, 1923 - March 20, 1964) was an Irish poet, short story writer, novelist and playwright who wrote in both Irish and English.

[edit] Attributed

• It's not that the Irish are cynical. It's rather that they have a wonderful lack of respect for everything and everybody.

• He was born an Englishman and remained one for years.
  • Forbes, 2 April 2001, p. 172.

• Critics are like eunuchs in a harem: they know how it's done, they've seen it done every day, but they're unable to do it themselves.
• I only drink on two occasions - When I am thirsty and when I'm not thirsty.
• I never turned to drink. It seemed to turn to me.
• The only thing I envy in young people is their livers.
• I wish I was a rich Communist.
• If I'm a snob, I'm a working class snob and that is the best kind.
• It's a queer world but the best we've got to be going on with.
• (When asked why he visited Canada) Well now, I was in a bar in Dublin, and it had one of those coasters. And it said, "Drink Canada Dry," so I thought I'd give it a shot.
• There is a standard story accredited to Brendan Behan while he was lying on his death bed. He is creditted with saying to the ward sister that was tending to him "God bless you sister, may your son grow up to be a bishop."
• Although there is no evidence that Behan actually said this, the following is part of Irish literary folklore.
  When asked to define the difference between prose and poetry, Behan is reported as saying:

There was a young fellah named Rollocks
Who worked for Ferrier Pollocks.
As he walked on the Strand
With his girl by the hand
The tide came up to his knees.

Now that’s prose. If the tide had been in, it would have been poetry.

• He is also reputed to have coined the ditty;

Here's a health to the Protestant Minister
And his church withou meaning or faith
For the foundation stones of his temple are
The bollocks of Henry the Eight.

• Brendan met Tony O'Reilly in O'Connell Street in Dublin one day and Tony was amazed to

find himself talking, not to the amiable tramp he was used to but a shaved and coiffured gentleman dressed in an Armani Suit and sporting a silk tie. "Heaven's above Brenadan" he said, " Have you given up the drink altogether?" "NO!" replied Brendan "I have joined alcoholics anynymous - I am drinking under an assumed name!!"

[edit] External links

Wikipedia has an article about:

Brendan Behan

The Brendan Behan Worship page