"I never abandoned either forms or freedom. I imagine that most of what could be called free verse is in my first book. I got through that fairly early"

"Years teach us more than books"

"It does not take a majority to prevail... but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men"

"Households, cities, countries, and nations have enjoyed great happiness when a single individual has taken heed of the Good and Beautiful. Such people not only liberate themselves; they fill those they meet with a free mind"

"There are two good things in life - freedom of thought and freedom of action"

"Creativity seems to emerge from multiple experiences, coupled with a well-supported development of personal resources, including a sense of freedom to venture beyond the known"

"I sort of try to read the books when they come out impartially and not make up my mind, but the fact is when I was reading the sixth, 'Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince', there were bits in there where I was going, 'God, I would love to do that because it's so good'"

"Amongst Women concentrated on the family, and the new book concentrates on a small community. The dominant units in Irish society are the family and the locality. The idea was that the whole world would grow out from that small space"

"Freedom is contagious. That's why despots fear it so much"

"When one man dies, one chapter is not torn out of the book, but translated into a better language"

"Nothing has been purchased more dearly than the little bit of reason and sense of freedom which now constitutes our pride"