His views on Keats, being a shy man, in the IRA, not liking cops, busking outside theatres, the Irish not being his audience, drinking porter, not being invited to the US, being generally difficult, the Abbey theatre, champagne, and going to the gallows.

Brendan Behan (1923–1964) was an Irish poet, short story writer, novelist, and playwright who wrote in both English and Irish. Some of his memorable quotes are listed below:

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

“I am a drinker with writing problems.”

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

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

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

“Other people have a nationality. The Irish and the Jews have a psychosis.”

“I have never seen a situation so dismal that a policeman couldn't make it worse.”

“One drink is too many for me and a thousand not enough.”

“New York is my Lourdes, where I go for spiritual refreshment ... a place where you're least likely to be bitten by a wild goat.”

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

“I am a daylight atheist.”

“If it was raining soup, the Irish would go out with forks.”

“Critics are like eunuchs in a harem; they know how it's done, they've seen it done every day, but they're unable to do it themselves.”

“It is a good deed to forget a poor joke."