Gillman smiles, in the cold manner of an assassin. It's like looking in the mirror.

— Irvine Welsh

He feels the bleakness crawling into his skull; Franco breaths in steadily, trying to tune in all out, that pressure on your brain, eroding focus, diverting the flow of thought down old ruinous canals...

— Irvine Welsh

History repeated itself. The 'don't do the things I did' mantra was tiresome fish. The best way to make sure your children don't grow up as cunts is not to be one yourself - or not to let them SEE you being one. This is easier as a sober artist in Santa Barbara than as an alcoholic jailbird in Lath.

— Irvine Welsh

I enjoy the freedom of the blank page.

— Irvine Welsh

I just love the weather. I live on Miami Beach, which is all boutique hotels and cocktails. Furthermore, I do sometimes go along to smart parties in my white suit, but I wouldn't really recognize any famous people if they were there because I'm not very good at star-spotting.

— Irvine Welsh

I love doubt in a woman. It's nearly as sexy as determination.

— Irvine Welsh

I think young writers should get other degrees first, social sciences, arts degrees or even business degrees. What you learn is research skills, a necessity because a lot of writing is about trying to find information.

— Irvine Welsh

It unsettles the women as they have dropped their disguise and are now giant praying mantis with blonde and auburn wigs, lipstick smeared on those deadly pitcher-like insect jaws.

— Irvine Welsh

I was used to heating but this place was so dry the trees were bribing the dogs.

— Irvine Welsh

Leave it man. Squirrel’s bothering nae cunt like say! Ah, hate it the was Mark’s intake hurting animals… it’s wrong man. Ye can nae love diesel if ye want TAE hurt things like that… ah mean… what hope is this? The squirrel’s likes fucking lovely. He’s Dean his ain thing. He’s free. That’s nibble what Rents can nae stand. The squirrel’s free man.

— Irvine Welsh