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You are here: Home / Irishisms / Irish Wisdom – The Power Of Friendship (Part 2)

Irish Wisdom – The Power Of Friendship (Part 2)

August 7, 2012 by Irish American Mom 9 Comments

In the Irish Celtic tradition there is a beautiful understanding of the power of friendship – a deep, spiritual belief in the importance of connection, trust and openness between two friends.

In part 1 of this series on Irish Wisdom And Friendship, we explored many old Irish sayings which emphasize the bonds of friendship.  Today, in part 2, I thought I might share some beautiful quotations from some of Ireland’s most influential scholars and writers.

 

Quotations From John O’Donohue:

 

John O’Donohue (1956-2008), author of the international best-seller Anam Cara, believed in divine, soulful friendship.  Anam Cara literally means ‘soul friend.’  Here are some of my favorite quotations from his profound writings:

 

 

“Real friendship or love is not manufactured or

achieved by an act of will or intention. Friendship is

always an act of recognition.”

 

– John O’Donohue from Anam Cara: A Book of Celtic Wisdom

 

 

“Your noble friend will not accept pretension but will

gently and very firmly confront you with your own

blindness. Such friendship is creative and critical;

it is willing to negotiate awkward and uneven

territories of contradiction and woundedness.”

 

– John O’Donohue from Anam Cara: A Book of Celtic Wisdom

 

“One of the tasks of true friendship is to listen

compassionately and creatively to the hidden

silences. Often secrets are not revealed in words,

they lie concealed in the silence between the words

or in the depth of what is unsayable between two

people.”

 

– John O’Donohue from Anam Cara: A Book of Celtic Wisdom

 

Quotations From William Butler Yeats:

 

 

“Choose your companions from the best;

Who draws a bucket with the rest,

Soon topples down the hill.”

 

– William Butler Yeats

 

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:William_Butler_Yeats_1.jpg
William Butler Yeats

Image Credit

 

“Think where man’s glory most begins and ends,

And say my glory was I had such friends.”

 

– William Butler Yeats

 

 

“There are no strangers here,

Only friends you haven’t yet met.”

 

– William Butler Yeats

Quotations From Oliver Goldsmith:

 

“Pity and friendship are two passions incompatible with each other.”

 

– Oliver Goldsmith

 

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Oliver_Goldsmith_sephia.jpg
Oliver Goldsmith

Image Credit

“Friendship is a disinterested commerce between equals:

love, an abject intercourse between tyrants and slaves.”

 

– Oliver Goldsmith

 

 

Quotations From Oscar Wilde:

 

 

“Laughter is not at all a bad beginning for a friendship,

and it is far the best ending for one.”

 

– Oscar Wilde

 

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Oscar_Wilde.jpeg
Oscar Wilde

 Image Credit

“An acquaintance that begins with a compliment

is sure to develop into a real friendship.”

 

– Oscar Wilde

 

My Favorite Quotation Of All:

 

 

“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.”

 

~ Irish Ballad

 

 

Slán agus beannacht,

(Goodbye and blessings)

 

Irish American Mom

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Filed Under: Irishisms, Wise Old Words Tagged With: Celtic Wisdom, Friendship, Irish Quotations, Irish Sayings, Irishisms, John O'Donohue, Oliver Goldsmith, Oscar Wilde, Wise Old Words, Yeats

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Comments

  1. Cheryl Barker says

    August 8, 2012 at 12:36 pm

    I think my favorite of the ones you’ve posted is from Yeats: “There are no strangers here,
    Only friends you haven’t yet met.” Love that thought!

    Reply
    • Irish American Mom says

      August 8, 2012 at 1:49 pm

      I agree Cheryl – what beautiful, simple words by Yeats. In a way it describes the world of blogging, where I have not found any strangers, just many friends I now have the pleasure of meeting. Thanks for all your lovely comments.

      Reply
  2. [email protected] says

    August 8, 2012 at 4:51 pm

    Hi Mairead, I wish I could wax eloquently quoting the famous poets and scholars of Ireland, but alas a man needs to know his limits, Hoping all is well,
    Cheers,
    Brian.

    Reply
    • Irish American Mom says

      August 8, 2012 at 10:20 pm

      Brian – Don’t we all wish we could wax poetically like the very best of Ireland’s poets and scholars? So let’s be grateful for the medium of blogging, where our words don’t have to perfect. Hope you are enjoying the rest of your summer. Best wishes, Mairead

      Reply
  3. Melissa says

    August 8, 2012 at 11:39 pm

    ““There are no strangers here,
    Only friends you haven’t yet met.”” ~Yeats

    One of my favorite quotes of all times, from one of my favorite poets. It does so distill the way the Irish and the Irish descent feel. Such lovely quotes! Thank you for sharing them. 🙂

    Reply
  4. Grammy says

    August 11, 2012 at 4:55 pm

    “Is the tender, passionate, undying love,
    Of one beer drunken slob for another.”

    Bahahahahahhaha! YES!!

    Reply
    • Irish American Mom says

      August 11, 2012 at 6:49 pm

      I love that one too, Grammy – it just sums it all up perfectly.

      Reply
  5. Chris B says

    September 10, 2012 at 12:15 pm

    Love that last one!!! Didn’t expect it either which made it extra fun! Good way to begin a Monday afternoon!

    Reply
    • Irish American Mom says

      September 10, 2012 at 8:54 pm

      Chris – I couldn’t resist throwing that last one in at the end – it really is a classic.

      Mairead

      Reply

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