53 Maeve Binchy Quotes for You to Enjoy

Maeve Binchy

Irish Novelist

Born: May 28, 1939

Died: Jun 30, 2012

Happy Life Me People Think You

Related authors: Elizabeth Bowen Frank Delaney George A. Moore James Joyce John Banville Laurence Sterne Robert Graves Roddy Doyle

Growing up in Ireland, there never seemed to be the notion that children should be seen and not heard. We all looked forward to mealtimes when we'd sit around the table and talk about our days. Storytelling and long, rambling conversations were considered good things. Maeve Binchy

Good Good Things Long Seen Sit Our Considered Table About Seemed Never Days Looked Talk Around Were Heard Up Ireland Children Conversations Storytelling Should Notion Forward Growing Growing Up Things

On the first day of school, my father told me I'd be the most popular girl and everyone would love me and want to be my friend. It wasn't so, but it gave me an enormous amount of confidence. Maeve Binchy

Love Day Me Confidence Love Me School Father Girl First Enormous Gave Everyone Would My Friend Most Friend Want Popular Amount

When my sister Joan arrived, I asked if I could swap her for a rabbit. When I think what a marvellous friend she's been, I'm so glad my parents didn't take me at my word. Maeve Binchy

Me Word Parents Sister Think Joan Marvellous Could Glad Take She Arrived Been Friend Rabbit Swap Asked If I Could Her

I was just lucky I lived in this time of mass-market paperbacks. Maeve Binchy

Time Just Lucky Lived

I didn't have a sweet tooth, but I liked butter, and I liked sauces, and I liked wine... and curry... and cheeses. Maeve Binchy

Wine Sweet Tooth Liked Curry Sweet Tooth Butter

Nobody is ordinary if you know where to look. Maeve Binchy

You Nobody Know Look Where Ordinary

Most people, once the money started getting bigger, thought we would buy a millionaire's house looking out at the sea - but what would two middle-aged people do that for? We were sensible enough when we got it. Maeve Binchy

I live in Ireland near the sea, only one mile from where I grew up - that's good, since I've known many of my neighbours for between 50-60 years. Gordon and I play chess every day, and we are both equally bad. We play chatty, over-talkative bad bridge with friends every week. Maeve Binchy

Good Day Every Day Live Every Neighbours Bad Only Both Week Between Since Gordon Known Equally Chess Years Up Friends Ireland Where Grew Mile Sea Many Bridge Near Play

I'm a great will maker. I've made my will every year since I was 21. Maeve Binchy

Great Will Made Year Every Since Maker

I love thriller writers. My favourites are Harlan Coban, Lee Child, Ian Rankin, Kathy Reichs and Ed McBain. Maeve Binchy

Love Favourites Thriller Writers Lee Child

The biggest influence on my books was the fact that I had worked in a newspaper for so long. In a daily paper, you learn to write very quickly; there is no time to sit and brood about what you are going to say. Maeve Binchy

I realized that you didn't have to make self-deprecating remarks or turn yourself into the butt of some unspoken joke. I also discovered that being big didn't deter possible suitors. Maeve Binchy

You Yourself Joke Big Possible Some Deter Remarks Unspoken Self-Deprecating Also Make Discovered Being Turn Realized Butt

The most important thing to realise is that everyone is capable of telling a story. It doesn't matter where we were born or how we grew up. Maeve Binchy

Matter Important Everyone Telling Born Most Most Important Thing How Important Thing Were Up The Most Important Where Grew Realise Story Capable Thing

I don't say I was 'proceeding down a thoroughfare;' I say I 'walked down the road'. I don't say I 'passed a hallowed institute of learning;' I say I 'passed a school'. Maeve Binchy

Learning School Down Say Road Institute Hallowed Passed Walked Down The Road

I am much more understanding of people than I used to be when I was young - people were either villainous or wonderful. They were painted in very bright colours. The bad side of it - and there is a corollary to everything - is that when we get older, we fuss more. I used to despise people who fussed. Maeve Binchy

People Wonderful Understanding Young Older Side Despise Corollary Everything Fuss Bad More Colours Am Were Very Than Get Either Much Used Who Painted Bright

You say to yourself: 'What could people, in all these countries, find in my books?' and yet I think we're all the same, anywhere. Everybody is a hero or a dramatic person in their own story if you just know where to look. Maeve Binchy

I believed that old people never laughed. I thought they sighed a lot and groaned. They walked with sticks, and they didn't like children on bicycles or roller skates... or with big dogs. Maeve Binchy

People Old Thought Big Laughed Never Like Sticks Dogs Lot Walked Roller Children Skates Old People Believed

After my hip operation, I had to cut out butter, which I loved, and salt. I no longer eat desserts with lots of cream, and I've cut right back on alcohol. Maeve Binchy

Salt Alcohol Back Desserts Out Eat Had Longer Operation Hip Lots After Loved Which Cut Cream Butter Right Right Back

I didn't get excited by weight loss, and since I was already happy being fat, I couldn't see the point of it all. I'm 6 ft. and weigh about 18 st. or 19 st., but weighing myself is not something I do with much pleasure. Maeve Binchy

Myself Happy Pleasure See About Something Point Weigh Weighing Weight Weight Loss Excited Since Loss Get Being Much Fat

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