112 Quotes by Colm Tóibín

I do not know why it matters that I should tell the truth to myself at night, why it should matter that the truth should be spoken at least once in the world. Because the world is a place of silence, the sky at night when the birds have gone is a vast silent place. Words will make the slightest difference to the sky at night. They will not brighten it or make it less strange. And the day too has its own deep indifference to anything that is said.

As I settled down to sleep in that new bed in the dark city, I saw that it was too late now, too late for everything. I would not be given a second chance. In the hours when I woke, I have to tell you that this struck me almost with relief.

in skies of deepening blue the moon, heaven's queen was now afloat

It really matters to writers to find and treasure readers, all the more when they're on the other side of the world.

John McGovern taught me that it's OK to write repeatedly about the same things.

'One Minus One' and 'Barcelona, 1975' are more or less autobiographical.

I think you can get a sort of intensity and an edginess offering nine stories in a book. Competing versions of things.

Writer's block! It doesn't exist. You just long for ideas to go away so you have an idea of peace.

It is important to find a publisher and equally important not to be noticed until your third or fourth book.