114 Quotes by Leon Uris

I never got over the horror of watching their graduation ceremonies, performed before their parents. After a demonstration of ‘military prowess’ and personal courage the ceremony ended with their biting off the heads of snakes. As the blood dripped down their chins, they roasted the dead animals for a victory feast. Other schools had the children strangle puppies and drink their blood.

I know writers have to be crazy. But more than that that, they have to get made and stay mad. If things don’t make a writer mad, he’ll end up writing Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cottantail.

Perhaps the bazaar looks disorganized to you, but it works for us. Perhaps Islam looks fanatical to you, but it provides us with the means to survive the harshness of this life and prepare us for a better life hereafter.

Look at me, man, look at me and tell me I don’t know what I’m about. I’m Conor Larkin. I’m an Irishman and I’ve had enough.

A combination of many stupidities can end up being a worthy man if he learns from his stupidities.

The only time we can attract a crowd is for some pilgrimage up some god-damned holy mountain to chase the snakes and banshees out of the country.

There’s a curse on me as there’s a curse on the Larkin name. The curse comes back, again and again, to taunt me! Ronan! Kilty! Tomas! And now me! What are the Irish among men? Are we lepers? Are we a blight? Will there ever be an end to our tears?

I have drawn inspiration from the Marine Corps, the Jewish struggle in Palestine and Israel, and the Irish.

Anyone who goes into writing has to find out somewhere along the line, he’s either naive or insane.