Coming from someone with a long Irish lineage on both sides of the family tree, I can say unequivocally there was nothing more disappointing to me than to throw a perfectly good potatoe into cabbage water.
To all my Irish brethren, countrymen and wannabees, I offer these quintessential Irish sayings to you:
"May the roof above us never fall in, and may we friends beneath it never fall out."
"Here's to me, and here's to you. And here's to love and laughter. I'll be true as long as you. And not one moment after."
"There are only two kinds of people in the world, The Irish and those who wish they were."
"May the enemies of Ireland never eat bread nor drink whiskey, but be afflicted with itching without the benefit of scratching."
"Continual cheerfulness is a sign of wisdom."
"The Irish do not want anyone to wish them well; they want everyone to wish their enemies ill."
"The stars make no noise."
"Where the tongue slips, it speaks the truth."
"Here's to you and yours, And to mine and ours, And if mine and ours ever come across you and yours, I hope you and yours will do as much for mine and ours and mine and ours have done for you and yours!"
"You'll never plough a field by turning it over in your mind."
"You've got to do your own growing, no matter how tall your father was."
"May your thoughts be as glad as the shamrocks. May your heart be as light as a song. May each day bring you bright, happy hours. That stay with you all the year long."
"Erin Go Bragh." (Ireland Forever)
"The longest road out is the shortest road home."
"May the cat eat you and may the devil eat the cat."
"It is often that a person's mouth broke his nose."
"If you're lucky enough to be Irish, then you're lucky enough."
"A son is a son till he takes him a wife. A daughter is a daughter all of her life."
"Who gossips with you will gossip of you."
"There are fish in the sea better than have ever been caught."
"It is better to be a coward for a minute than dead for the rest of your life."
"A good laugh and a long sleep are the two best cures."
"Don't give cherries to pigs or advice to fools."
"Sláinte!" (Health!/Cheers!)
"A silent mouth is sweet to hear."
