I respect kindness in human beings first, and kindness to animals. I don't respect the law; I have a total irreverence for anything connected with society except that which makes the roads safer, the beer stronger, the food cheaper and the old men and old women warmer in the winter and happier in the summer.

— Brendan Behan

It's not that the Irish are cynical. It's rather that they have a wonderful lack of respect for everything and everybody.

— Brendan Behan

I was court-martialled in my absence, and sentenced to death in my absence, so I said they could shoot me in my absence.

— Brendan Behan

The Bible was a consolation to a fellow alone in the old cell. The lovely thin paper with a bit of mattress stuffing in it, if you could get a match, was as good a smoke as I ever tasted.

— Brendan Behan

The big difference between sex for money and sex for free is that sex for money usually costs a lot less.

— Brendan Behan

The most important things to do in the world are to get something to eat, something to drink and somebody to love you.

— Brendan Behan

There is no such thing as bad publicity except your own obituary.

— Brendan Behan

. . . 'Twill turn your eyeballs black and blue.

— Brendan Behan

We had gone out there to pass the beautiful day of high summer like true Irishmen - locked in the dark Snug of a public house.

— Brendan Behan

What the hell difference does it make left or right? There were good men lost on both sides.

— Brendan Behan