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Quotes from The Destinies of Darcy Dancer, Gentleman — J. P. Donleavy

1926–2017 Ireland

← All quotes by J. P. Donleavy

17 quotes

In a big bowl full of hatred can you ever find a spoonful of love.

The Destinies of Darcy Dancer, Gentleman (1977)

My god, one can see such a different side of people when one's merely a menial.
O God what utter amazing ruddy bliss to no longer be a menial.

The Destinies of Darcy Dancer, Gentleman (1977)

But like the end of every rainbow I ran to with my sisters, all I ever found was misty rain drops.

The Destinies of Darcy Dancer, Gentleman (1977)

"There is but one thing that is important, that no one can ever take your good manners from you."

The Destinies of Darcy Dancer, Gentleman (1977)

"Even if everybody suffers, your own suffering does not seem less."

The Destinies of Darcy Dancer, Gentleman (1977)

The one who leads the hunt gets no splatter.

The Destinies of Darcy Dancer, Gentleman (1977)

"Bash on regardless. That is the cry dear chap. Through the funerals of friends. Trampling the rose gardens of enemies. Bash on regardless."

The Destinies of Darcy Dancer, Gentleman (1977)

Foxy said the whole country was night and day asking God for favours. And you'd never get a chance to slip your own in. Especially if they had any old uncles or aunts to die to leave them a bit of land, they'd say dear Jesus would you ever strike the fuckers dead.

The Destinies of Darcy Dancer, Gentleman (1977)

Insanus omnis furere credit ceteros.
Every madman thinks everyone else mad.

The Destinies of Darcy Dancer, Gentleman (1977)

"But damn it all, aren't we just as some great playwright or someone said, actors on a stage."

The Destinies of Darcy Dancer, Gentleman (1977)

"Tongues never still. Wagging and wagging. In one shopkeeper's ear and out to a dozen others. And in a thrice don't they have the whole story all over Ireland."

The Destinies of Darcy Dancer, Gentleman (1977)

Of the eighty thousand things that came all at once into my mind to say, I selected the one hundred and twelfth.

The Destinies of Darcy Dancer, Gentleman (1977)

"Why don't you shut up. You thief."
Amazing how few words one has to use to gain one's desired effect.

The Destinies of Darcy Dancer, Gentleman (1977)

But with all my responsibilities these days I thought that a wife would be quite suitable. And save me paying wages.

The Destinies of Darcy Dancer, Gentleman (1977)

Foxy said it was always good to use the word fucking in your threats. Then they always fucking well knew.
That you
Fucking well
Meant it

The Destinies of Darcy Dancer, Gentleman (1977)

"Ah Master Reginald, you've learned your first lesson in life. Unless you were better off where you've been, you're always better off where you are. But no matter where you've been or where you are you'll never know if you'll be better off where you're going."

The Destinies of Darcy Dancer, Gentleman (1977)

Love and affection calms the horse. Provided you can administer these before you are bitten, trampled or kicked to death. Meanwhile step back out of harm's way. Murmur quiet peaceful words. There, there now. Easy there. Quietly now. Good old fellow.

The Destinies of Darcy Dancer, Gentleman (1977)

Attribution

Quotes and notes from Wikiquote: J. P. Donleavy (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0.