Other related topics at:
People and Places
10. Ireland
"I have long wished that the Irish literature were cultivated.
Ireland is known by tradition to have been once the seat of piety
and learning; and surely it would be very acceptable to all
those who are curious either in the original of nations, or the
affinities of languages, to be further informed of the revolution
of a people so ancient, and once so illustrious."
Johnson: Letter to Charles O'Connor
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105. Ireland
"The Irish are in a most unnatural state; for we see there the
minority prevailing over the majority. There is no instance,
even in the ten persecutions, of such severity as that which the
protestants of Ireland have exercised against the Catholicks.
Did we tell them we have conquered them, it would be above board:
to punish them by confiscation and other penalties, as rebels,
was monstrous injustice."
Boswell: Life
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809. Ireland
"The Irish are not in a conspiracy to cheat the world by false
representations of the merits of their countrymen. No, Sir; the
Irish are a fair people; -- they never speak well of one
another."
Boswell: Life of Johnson
Link
1,708. Abuse of Power; Ireland
To an Irishman, on Ireland's political state: "Do not make a
union with us, Sir. We should unite with you, only to rob you. We
should have robbed the Scotch, if they had had any thing of which
we could have robbed them."
Boswell: Life of Johnson
Link
1,801. Ireland; Travel
He, I know not why, shewed upon all occasions an aversion to go
to Ireland, where I proposed to him that we should make a tour.
JOHNSON. "It is the last place where I should wish to travel."
BOSWELL. "Should you not like to see Dublin, Sir?" JOHNSON. "No,
Sir; Dublin is only a worse capital." BOSWELL. "Is not the
Giant's-Causeway worth seeing?" JOHNSON. "Worth seeing, yes; but
not worth going to see."
Boswell: Life of Johnson
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