Douglas Hyde

“The necessity for de-anglicising the Irish nation is a matter of the first importance.”

“The Gaelic League is founded not upon hatred of England, but upon love of Ireland.”

“The Irish language, thank God, is not either a Protestant or a Catholic language.”

“The moment the people cease to be Irish in spirit, they might as well be transplanted to the plains of England.”

“It is a most disgraceful accusation to make against the Irish people to say they are not now fit for self-government.”

“What we want to do is to create a friendly feeling between the two countries, not a feeling of suspicion, of dread, and of hate.”

“Our history has been a history of mutual rapine and reprisal. Our patriotism has been a patriotism of hate, not of love.”

“In order to de-Anglicise ourselves we must at once cast off the English dress, the English gait, the English accent.”

“I am not a politician. I am an academic.”

“The one thing that is most threatened is the language. It is the one thing that can be most easily lost.”