Iris Murdoch

All art is a struggle to be, in a particular sort of way, virtuous.

I think being a woman is like being Irish. Everyone says you're important and nice, but you take second place all the same.

Between saying and doing, many a pair of shoes is worn out.

I think that, in almost all human beings, there is buried a profound tribal instinct that makes us very susceptible to being aroused to patriotic fervour.

It's easy to have faith in yourself and have discipline when you're a winner, when you're number one. What you got to have is faith and discipline when you're not a winner.

Hatred is a very underestimated emotion.