Terence MacSwiney
Terence James MacSwiney (Irish: Toirdhealbhach Mac Suibhne; 28 March 1879 – 25 October 1920) was an Irish playwright, author and politician. He was elected as Sinn Féin Lord Mayor of Cork during the Irish War of Independence in 1920. He was arrested by the British Government on charges of sedition and imprisoned in Brixton Prison. His death there in October 1920 after 74 days on hunger strike brought him and the Irish Republican campaign to international attention.
Quotes
[edit]- In a physical contest on the field of battle it is allowable to use tactics and strategy, to retreat as well as advance, to have recourse to a ruse as well as open attack; but in matters of principle there can be no tactics, there is one straightforward course to follow, and that course must be found and followed without swerving to the end.
- Principles of Freedom (1921) ch. 16, sect. 4 [1]
- It is not those who can inflict the most but those that can suffer the most who will conquer.
- Quoted in Pete Hamill, "'It is those that can suffer most who will conquer'" [Review of J. Bowyer Bell's The Secret Army: The IRA], The New York Times (5 September 1971), and in Brian Maye, "An Irishman's Diary on a prophetic play by Terence MacSwiney", The Irish Times (12 November 2014). Some sources replace "conquer" with "prevail"
- I am confident that my death will do more to smash the British Empire than my release.
- On his hunger strike. Quoted in Richard Bennett, The Black and Tans (Pen and Sword, 2010) p. 90
- If I die the fruit will exceed the cost a thousand fold. The thought of it makes me happy. I thank God for it.
- Quoted in Cathal Billings, "Terence MacSwiney: Triumph of blood sacrifice", The Irish Independent (3 March 2016)
- I want you to bear witness that I die as a Soldier of the Irish Republic.
- His last words, to a visiting priest. Quoted in Richard Bennett, The Black and Tans (2010) p. 90
