Whatever we experience in our day, whatever we hope to learn, whatever — Thomas Cahill

"A century after the death of Patrick... there were few Romans left in western Europe. [By the mid sixth century] the whole subtle substructure of Roman political organization and Roman communication has vanished. In its place have grown the sturdy little principalities of the Middle Ages, Gothic illiterates ruling over Gothic illiterates, pagan or occasionally Arian—that is, following a debased, simpleminded form of Christianity in which Jesus was given a status similar to that of Mohammed in Islam."

"Lacking cities, Ireland didnt quite see the point of bishops, and gradually these were replaced in importance by abbots and—in a development that would make any self-respecting Romans blood run cold—abbesses."

"The high abbesses... had the power to heal, ...almost certainly heard confessions, probably ordained clergy, and may even have celebrated Mass."

"Ireland is unique in religious history for being the only land into which Christianity was introduced without bloodshed."

"For me, the historians principal task should be to raise the dead to life."

"Irish generosity extended not only to a variety of people but to a variety of ideas. ...they brought into their libraries everything they could lay their hands on. ...Not for them the scruples of Saint Jerome... they began to devour all of the old Greek and Latin pagan literature that came their way."