Ambiguity is the essence of Irish writing, I think. - John Banville

I have always disliked the sea, its surliness, its menace, its vast reaches and unknowable, shudder-inducing depths.

I hesitate to talk about Czech food. [...] The people are very sweet, wonderfully cultured, very friendly, but my God how they eat that food I do not know. It is surely the most disgusting cuisine in the world.

I like to dress conservatively because then the outrageous things you say are even more outrageous.