Conor Cruise O'Brien Quotes

Conor Cruise O'Brien — Irish Politician born on November 03, 1917, died on December 18, 2008

Conor Cruise O'Brien often nicknamed "The Cruiser", was an Irish politician, writer, historian and academic. His opinion on the role of Britain in Ireland and in Northern Ireland changed during the 1970s in response to the outbreak of 'the Troubles' after 1968. He saw opposing nationalist and unionist traditions as irreconcilable and switched from a nationalist to a unionist view of Irish politics and history. O'Brien's outlook was always radical and the positions he took were seldom orthodox. He summarised his position as, "I intend to administer an electric shock to the Irish psyche". Internationally, he opposed in person the African National Congress's academic boycott of the apartheid regime in South Africa. These views contrasted with those espoused during the 1950s and 1960s... (wikipedia)

Nothing does more to activate Christian divisions than talk about Christian unity.

The main thing that endears the United Nations to member governments, and so enables it to survive, is its proven capacity to fail, and to be seen to fail.

You can safely appeal to the United Nations in the comfortable certainty that it will let you down.

Man watches his history on the screen with apathy and an occasional passing flicker of horror or indignation.

Human nature doesn't include all human beings. There are human beings who are indifferent to politics, religion, virtually anything.