A lucky chance, that oft decides the fate
Of mighty monarchs.
Saint Patrick's Day Quotes
No Irish collection sits under this page. It comes from two others, luck and friendship, which is about as close as a mechanical match can get to a day of toasts. The luck page leans on Seneca, Livy and Shakespeare, and on Horace’s complaint about Fortune, so expect fortune in the Roman sense rather than the four-leaf kind.
Two of its entries, from Torquato Tasso, are flagged misattributed. If you want an Irish writer, use the search box. Wilde and Shaw are both on the site.
Most quoted on saint patrick's day:
Fan the sinking flame of hilarity with the wing of friendship; and pass the rosy wine.
As dear to me as are the ruddy drops
That visit my sad heart.
I hate the prostitution of the name of friendship to signify modish and worldly alliances.
The condition which high friendship demands is ability to do without it.
'Tis thus that on the choice of friends
Our good or evil name depends.
For whoever knows how to return a kindness he has received must be a friend above all price.
Chance and chance alone has a message for us... Only chance can speak to us.
They make their fortune who are stout and wise,
Wit rules the heavens, discretion guides the skies.
Indeed, I do not envy your fortune; I rather am surprised at it.
Ah, friend! to dazzle let the vain design;
To raise the thought and touch the heart be thine.