Skip to main content

Best Irish Sayings and Proverbs

The Irish are known for many things, not the least of which is their wit and wisdom. In addition to the sage advice found in their proverbs and blessings, the island has been a hotbed of literary talent for centuries, producing the likes of Jonathan Swift, Seamus Heaney, Oscar Wilde, George Bernard Shaw, and James Joyce–among many others. Over the years, these writers have offered up sound advice on life, love, hard work, and everything in between.

And with the patron saint of the Emerald Isle’s day upon us, what better time to celebrate that wonderful Irish wisdom than now? Whether you’re looking for a little cheer on St. Patrick’s Day or just for something to get you through any old day, we’ve compiled a list of the best Irish sayings and proverbs.

Recommended Videos

Friendship

Two shorten the road.

A friend’s eye is a good mirror.

There are no strangers here; only friends you haven’t yet met. -W.B. Yeats

May the roof above us never fall in, and may the friends gathered below it never fall out.

There is no need like the lack of a friend.

People live in each other’s shelter.

May the hinges of our friendship never grow rusty.

Hard Work

It is the good horse that draws its own cart.

It takes time to build castles. Rome was not built in a day.

I am tomorrow, or some future day, what I establish today. I am today what I established yesterday or some previous day. -James Joyce

Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. – Samuel Beckett

A trade not properly learned is an enemy.

There is no luck except where there is discipline.

The creation of the world did not take place once and for all time, but takes place every day. -Samuel Beckett

Honesty 

The faking of feelings is a sin against the imagination. -Seamus Heaney

Where the tongue slips, it speaks the truth.

A gentleman is one who never hurts anyone’s feelings unintentionally. -Oscar Wilde

Many an honest heart beats under a ragged coat.

Life

What is seldom is wonderful.

No wise man ever wished to be younger. -Jonathan Swift

Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself. -George Bernard Shaw

Life is far too important a thing ever to talk seriously about. -Oscar Wilde

Pity him who makes an opinion a certainty.

Life is too short to read a bad book. – James Joyce

A light heart lives longest.

Sense does not come before age.

Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go. -Oscar Wilde

When the drink is in, the sense is out.

Lie down with dogs, and you’ll rise with fleas.

May you live all the days of your life. -Jonathan Swift

Love

There is no love sincerer than the love of food. -George Bernard Shaw

It’s easy to halve the potato where there’s love.

Love him when he least deserves it; that’s when he most needs it.

But the greatest love–the love above all loves, even greater than that of a mother–is the tender, passionate, undying love of one beer drunken slob for another.

Trouble in love hates nothing more than a smile.

Love is like a lifeboat on the stormy sea of life.

They lived and laughed and loved and left. -James Joyce

Wine comes in at the mouth, and love comes in at the eye. -W.B. Yeats


Header image courtesy of Nicolas Raymond via Creative Commons.

Lisa Dunn
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Lisa Dunn is a writer with a background in investigative journalism and a love of tailored suits. Born and raised in New…
9 best Walton Goggins TV shows: From Justified to The Righteous Gemstones
Google Goggins and you'll find a show you love
Walton Goggins in The White Lotus season 3

My favorite type of actor is the one where I'm watching my new favorite show, and they appear on the screen, and I immediately tell my brother (who happens to be my go-to TV-watching partner), "It's that guy!" No name, no recollection of where I've seen him before. "He's in everything!" This is the best compliment someone can give an actor when they star in a new project. Sure, it's probably fun to be Tom Hanks or Denzel Washington, but those superstars almost devour the characters they play. It's sometimes a disservice to a story when the actors are so famous that they can't help but overshadow the role they're playing.

Walton Goggins is the ultimate "I know him!" TV actor of the 21st century. This man is a chameleon to the highest degree. Goggins transforms from a bitter boomer on a vacation to a transgender motorcycle mama in the blink of an eye. His talents have finally garnered him the recognition he deserves. Before he outgrows his discreet status as TV's most versatile performer, it's time to collect all of his best TV shows into one nice package. After reading this list you'll finally be able to put a name to his face when he's in another great show. These are the best Walton Goggins TV shows.

Read more
April’s best: Shows on Max that will keep you hooked
From new originals to the best shows in HBO history, these are great shows to stream on Max
Scene from Succession

HBO Max was one of the most popular streaming services in the world due to the volume and the quality of the shows and movies on the platform. You've probably noticed when you log into HBO Max that the platform has been replaced by Max. What does this mean? WarnerMedia and Discovery have merged all of their content into one convenient location. You can still enjoy all of the shows like Succession and The Sopranos that were available on HBO Max, and this new streaming service also includes the kinds of reality shows that were available on Discovery+. Essentially, the libraries of the two services have been merged.
As is the case for many young TV lovers, HBO was one of the places I checked first for great TV, and some of the shows on this list made me realize everything that TV was capable of. What's even better, though, is that Max always has another show on deck.
Whatever kind of show you're looking for, you're likely to find it on Max. From iconic dramas to some of the funniest comedies ever created, every show on this list is a must-watch, whether it's 30 years old or just came out this year. Here are the best Max shows.

The Wire (2002)

Read more
Discover the best Disney+ movies to watch this April
If you're a Disney+ member, stream these movies this month
Princess Bride

Disney is arguably the most iconic entertainment brand in the world. The company's properties, both original and acquired, combine to produce content that transcends age demographics. Disney has built a brand that's beloved by children, and those children eventually age into adults who introduce their kids to the films they loved when they were young. Disney's animation alone has made it iconic, but in recent years, the company has also acquired some of the biggest pieces of intellectual property there are. And with Disney Plus available on any device, you can watch all these movies whenever you want.

Between its acquisitions of both Marvel and Star Wars, there's a good chance that Disney is shepherding whatever you love to screens, both large and small. When it launched Disney+, the company was sure to fill it with both those nostalgic animated classics and plenty of new stuff as well. If, like me, you've ever felt a twinge of nostalgia for the Disney movies you loved as a kid, they're all there. Just as importantly, though, you can find movies that will resonate with you today in ways they didn't as a kid. Whatever you're looking for, you can probably find it on Disney+.

Read more