Mary McAleese

“The future is not a place we are going to, but a place we are creating.”

“Each of us is a vital thread in another's life, our actions touching in ways we cannot see, the story of other lives.”

“We are a much more diverse and multicultural society than we were when I was growing up, and I think that's a great thing. It's a source of great strength.”

“A compassionate society is one that is inclusive, that values every single one of its citizens, and that ensures that no one is left behind.”

“We need to build a republic of the heart, a republic of equals, a republic of citizens who are cherished and respected.”

“There is no them and us. There is only us.”

“The fifth province is not a place apart, but a state of mind, a place of the imagination where the harsh realities of the past can be transcended.”

“I believe in the power of conversation to change hearts and minds.”

“I am a bridge-builder. That is my job.”

“Hope is a verb with its sleeves rolled up.”

“The work of building peace is a slow and complex process. It requires a commitment to dialogue, to understanding, and to reconciliation.”

“Building bridges is the most important of human endeavours.”

“We are not the prisoners of our past. We are the architects of our future.”

“History is not a burden, but a repository of wisdom.”

“We have to build a new Ireland, an Ireland of the 21st century, an Ireland where all are cherished equally.”

“We cannot change the past, but we can change our attitude to it.”