adroit quotes

The historic destiny of the Irish is being fulfilled on the other side of the Atlantic, where they have settled in their millions, bringing with them all their ancient grudges and the melancholy of the bogs, but also their hard, ancient wisdom. Theyalone of the newcomers are never fora moment taken in by themultifarious frauds of modernity. They have been changed from peasants and soldiers into townsmen. They have learned some of the superficial habits of 'good citizenship', but at heart they remain the same adroit and joyless race that broke the hearts of all who ever tried to help them.

- Evelyn Arthur StJohn Waugh
  'TheAmerican Epoch in the Catholic Church'.