Ireland starts for me with the end of The Dead, which my father read to me from his desk in his basement office in New Albany, Ind.

- John Jeremiah Sullivan

It is a curious fact that the word essayist showed up in English before it existed in French.

- John Jeremiah Sullivan

At GQ, there was never a temptation to pander or preach to the choir because I had no concept of who the reader was or what that reader might want.

- John Jeremiah Sullivan

The city of Cork - the urban center, where all the shops and bars and everything are - is actually an island, a river island.

- John Jeremiah Sullivan

Freaky things happen all the time in the world. I suppose everything has to happen for the first time at some point.

- John Jeremiah Sullivan

One of the best things I’ve read about that inexplicably, but endlessly, fascinating group of people, the so-called Serious Collectors of 78s. Petrus…

- John Jeremiah Sullivan

Reporting provides reminders that things are always more complicated than you think.

- John Jeremiah Sullivan

Not watching TV gets me in a lot of trouble in my household because my wife and daughter have a lot of shows they like to watch.

- John Jeremiah Sullivan

A good writer wants from us — or has no right to ask more than — intelligence, good faith and time.

- John Jeremiah Sullivan