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Quotes from The Ginger Man — J. P. Donleavy

1926–2017 Ireland

← All quotes by J. P. Donleavy

15 quotes

"Mr Dangerfield, why don't you believe in hell and things like that?"
"Hell is for poor people."

The Ginger Man (1955)

They say there is good in everyone. If you just give them a chance. And a good boot in the arse.

The Ginger Man (1955)

How small we make our worlds. Gather them in, tighten them up into little castles of fear.

The Ginger Man (1955)

A change of scene is good for a change of mind.

The Ginger Man (1955)

"I'm suspicious about people interested in saving other people's souls."

The Ginger Man (1955)

"And I've something to tell you in strict confidence so spread it everywhere."

The Ginger Man (1955)

"By all means come in, Kenneth."
"Some place. What holds it up?"
"Faith."

The Ginger Man (1955)

"What are you going to do in London?"
"Rest from the eyes. Ever notice the eyes along the street. Ever notice them? Looking for something. And in this fine cultured city it's me."

The Ginger Man (1955)

Hearts clicking. Remember that. Just so many times and click, we go away in this roofless world.

The Ginger Man (1955)

"I know this is a dreadful inconvenience for you, Miss Frost. I want you to know I really appreciate it. I have till now counted my friends on a hand of amputated fingers."

The Ginger Man (1955)

And dear God
Give me strength
To put my shoulder
To the wheel
And push
Like the rest.

The Ginger Man (1955)

All I want
Is one break
Which is not
My neck.

The Ginger Man (1955)

But Jesus, when you don't have any money, the problem is food. When you have money, it's sex. When you have both it's health, you worry about getting rupture or something. If everything is simply jake then you're frightened of death.

The Ginger Man (1955)

"Turn to gangsterism."
"Sebastian, I couldn't."
"Tone, pride has you at its mercy."
"Has me by the very ballocks."
"Tony, I think a pint would see us right."
"I think you're right for the first time since you last said that."

The Ginger Man (1955)

"Now kneel down in that booth while I give ye me special yule blessing. Get down in that booth. I know you're standing, you dirty ould cheat. Get down. For Jesus, what are you doing, ripping the phone out? Repeat after me, the Lord is my shepherd as I am one of his sheared sheep."
"The Lord is my shepherd as I am one of his sheared sheep."

The Ginger Man (1955)

Attribution

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