She has always ridden the passions as if they were a magnificent horse — Edna O'Brien

"Oh, God, who does not exist, you hate women, otherwise youd have made them different. And Jesus, who snubbed your mother, you hate them more."

"The vote, I thought, means nothing to women, we should be armed."

"I dont think I have ever learned the game of men and women. To this day I regret the fact that its like a dance I couldnt learn."

"Writers really live in the mind and in hotels of the soul. (Vogue, April 1985)"

"Theres nothing like obstacle to make a writer"

"When were young, we leave home and we think were leaving behind us our roots. And we do leave them behind for a time. And then they catch up with us, and they twine themselves around us and thats a great thing."