Quotes by John Hume

“If the word No was removed from the English language, Ian Paisley would be speechless”

“He seldom errs / Who thinks the worst he can of womankind.”

“My name is Norval; on the Grampian hills / My father feeds his flocks; a frugal swain, / Whose constant cares were to increase his store.”

“leaving the past behind us and building a new future together.”

“We did not seek ideological confrontation.”

“an amount of (explosives) ... in a certain location, the current difficulties could be swiftly overcome.”

“Given that he (Major) has told me in writing that those who were killed on Bloody Sunday should be regarded as innocent of any allegation that they were shot while handling firearms or explosives -- if that is the case, could he please tell me why they were shot?”

“It is necessary as far as we are concerned that this matter is resolved as soon as possible,”

“firmly based on our partys fundamental values.”

“Lets work together and build together, and as we do that, the real solution will begin, ... The real healing process will begin, and we will erode the distrust of the past.”

Difference is the essence of humanity. Difference is an accident of birth, and it should therefore never be the source of hatred or conflict. Therein lies a most fundamental principle of peace: respect for diversity.

The civil rights movement in the United States was about the same thing, about equality of treatment for all sections of the people, and that is precisely what our movement was about.

I think thats not a question that one can answer accurately. I read a whole range of books, quite a lot of history at the time, and still do read a lot. I read very widely.

The basic policy of the British Government was that since the majority of people in Northern Ireland wished to remain in the United Kingdom, that was that. We asked what would happen if the majority wanted something else, if the majority wanted to see Irish unity.