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“To remember everything is a form of madness.”
― Brian Friel, Translations

“Yes, it is a rich language, Lieutenant, full of the mythologies of fantasy and hope and self-deception - a syntax opulent with tomorrows. It is our response to mud cabins and a diet of potatoes; our only method of replying to... inevitabilities.”
― Brian Friel, Translations

“...that it is not the literal past, the 'facts' of history, that shape us, but images of the past embodied in language.”
― Brian Friel, Translations

“But remember that words are signals, counters. They are not immortal. And it can happen - to use an image you'll understand - it can happen that a civilisation can be imprisoned in a linguistic contour which no longer matches the landscape of... fact.”
― Brian Friel, Translations

“Even if I did speak Irish, I’d always be considered an outsider here, wouldn’t I? I may learn the password but the language of the tribe will always elude me, won’t it? The private core will always be ...hermetic, won’t it?”
― Brian Friel, Translations

“No matter how long the sun may linger on his long and weary journey, at length evening comes with its sacred song.”
― Brian Friel, Translations

“I went on to propose that our own culture and the classical tongues made a happier conjugation [...] English, I suggested, couldn't really express us.”
― Brian Friel, Translations

“A-that it is not the literal past, the 'facts ' of history, that shape us, but images of that past embodied in language.
B-we must never cease renewing those images; because once we do, we fossilise.”
― Brian Friel, Translations

“Come on man, speak in English.

For the benefit of the colonist?

He's a decent man.

Aren't they all at some level?”
― Brian Friel, Translations

“He then explained that he does not speak Irish. Latin? I asked. None. Greek? Not a syllable. He speaks - on his own admission - only English; and to his credit he seemed suitably verecund - James? Verecundus - humble.”
― Brian Friel, Translations